Please bear with me when you read this because I feel the pain of desperation, torture and rejection of the poor in the society. This is the community that is suffering from almost all the aspects of hate, disgust and impending natural calamities.
In spite of all these problems, the media has neglected their plight and only gives scanty slots to report on their situations. There are those of us on the other hand that claim to be patriots of the nation yet they have put their plights in the offing.
The media has put forth its position but will do anything to conceal their positions on certain issues affecting the IDP community. It has also been trying to show assistance to the less fortunate in the society but only to woo the readers.
Looking at our societal environment’ it is evident that there are things that are not good to look at and be proud of in the social setting. But there is very little being done by the media to counter this.
When I say this, I guess you have a picture of the way some people in the nation are going through hard times but without sympathy but loads of neglect and “mockery” from the cream of our leadership.
Just the other day, there was an issue where IDPs were to be given land. But when looking at the media reports of the same, the land in this case was infertile and unfit for agriculture. This brings us to the point of argument, to the IDPs need any settlement or do they want to reconstruct their life.
Since the media is reporting on the IDP issue without the necessary vigor and taste, it is the duty of the public to think about their plight.
The media tends to put political rallies and office campaigns forward and with scanty reports on the IDP issue. Many are the times when the IDP issue is neglected and never being given the prime space in the news coverage.
This is an agenda that in my opinion the media has put forth since the IDP issue ensued. It should be noted that since the IDP plight ensued, little is being covered on the same as days go by.
Having these systems in place, the media taking the political class as the prime news worth individuals, we have been made to think of what they say as important, instead of whatever the society is going through.
During the ‘homecoming party’ of the Ocampo Six, the media covered more on the unfolding events in the party ground and less on the IDPs, although there was a clash of venue. Less was being said about the IDPS, instead, the focus was much on the Ocampo Six issues.
Having set the agenda that the ‘homecoming party was of more importance, they built the idea in many people’s minds that the IDP issue was less important hence in my opinion the reason why their prayer venue was cancelled.
Although the IDPs are the true bearers of the burdens of the post election violence, the media literally does less to highlight their plight. Had the media given the focus on this issue, then the government should have fallen into the task of ensuring they are resettled in time.
Instead, the media is always waiting for disaster to befall them before they can cover and give some insight of the same. This agenda has dominated the majority of the media houses thus making it difficult to push the government into action.
Although this has been the case, recently, Radio Africa group has tried to bloom the IDP story through their spot- THE IDP STORY_ after every news bulletin, it has not been successful in other media housed are still working behind the mirrors on the same issue.
Taking a look at the rallies that have been taking place, it is evident that the political class is seen as important and their presence felt, thanks to the media. They will get their opinion driven home through advertisements and vocal power because they have the money to pay for the spots.
Welcoming the Ocampo Six suspects and making them look like heroes was an uncouth way of action by the media since they killed the IDP story. During the rally, the speakers had nothing positive from the IDPs but insults to the Prime minister, whom they view as their political enemy
To me, this should not have been considered a prayer meeting but an adoration of the evil of society. It was a meeting meant to hit at their political enemies.
To confirm the ineptness of that “prayer” meeting, there was an indication that the IDPs were not present since there was no say from their representative. On the other hand, if they were present, then the media shunned away from covering them.
Apart from the IDP issue there are more serious issues of national concern. There were those that lost their loved ones in the process of the war in 2007. People lost property among other things as a result of the war. All these ended with the culminatination of the war, and the media has since embarked on other aspects in their news.
We have also been preaching on national healing and integration ever since the violence ended and if there is no leader that is ready to spearhead the aspect of cohesion, there will never be forgiveness.
The media need to act as the public eye and cover on the plight of poor. It should not be coaxed by the moneyed and the societal cream and forget those that depend on their voice.
We need a medium will instead be looking for alternative sources of income and new information about the actual position of the normal citizen.
The media should the philosophy of nationalism brotherhood and equality in giving space. By so doing, we shall be in a position to run to the media whenever we get in trouble.
Let’s embrace brotherhood and avoid hate or else, the future will judge us for the bad we are doing to the society.
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