By Ernest Osogbue

In recent times, it has become the norm to seek public adulation in our country. People's worth is now measured by the number of followers they boast on social media platforms and the amount of approval ratings their posts receive. These are times when the truth no longer subsists, but rather, that which pleases the majority. 

For some time now, I have watched as the noble journalism profession to which I belong has been on the firing line. The advent of social media and sundry alternative media platforms is challenging the position of traditional media, and so, media practitioners are adopting all forms of styles and approaches in order to remain relevant. As a result, attributes and attitudes that should be confined to social media have now found their way into conventional media practice, and journalism is the loser. 

These days, combative journalists who go on air to sometimes malign and attack their guests or respondents are usually rewarded for their approach by the amount of adulation they receive on social media. This has tended to create the impression in the minds of non-discerning members of the public that what they are practicing is good journalism. But this is not so. 

I remember a piece written many years ago by Reuben Abati in the Guardian Newspapers, titled Junk Journalism. That piece, if I remember correctly, drew attention to the kind of journalism being peddled by soft-sell magazines, as they were so-called. These magazines, which have since gone into extinction, left the issues of national development and the plight of the common man and focused on gossip centered on the sordid private lives of those they termed celebrities. 

Unknown to many, these junk journalists were only a harbinger of what is to come; as today, we are mired in the throes of populist journalism, the grandchild of junk journalism. Populist journalism, by its nature, tends to ride on popular emotion that things are always what they seem. In line with that, populist journalists tend to always do their jobs in line with popular trends. They tend to frame their questions in line with supposedly popular views so as to remain relevant with the largest number of readers, listeners, or viewers, as the case may be.  

Unfortunately, however, as we know, in life, things are not always what they seem. That is why the journalist is taught to act like a police detective. He must take on an issue without preconceived opinions. He must keep an open mind. A police detective who investigates a crime with a bias would always end up with a failed investigation. In like manner, a populist journalist who goes into an interview with a preconceived opinion would end up with a failed interview. 

This brings to mind the recent appearance of Comrade Adams Oshiomohle on the popular political television show Politics Today on Channels television, as anchored by Seun Okinbaloye. The interview was to discuss the recent Edo State governorship election, where INEC had declared the APC candidate, Monday Okpebholo, the winner. I have nothing against Okinbaloye, I give him his flowers. He has earned his stripes since the days of the death before being sworn in as governor of Prince Abubakar Audu in Kogi State in 2015. Seun has demonstrated his journalistic acumen, not only in attracting the appropriate guests but also in asking the pertinent questions. 

In adhering to the tenets of populist journalism, however, he is always under pressure to deliver to his base by going on the attack so as not to be accused of having sold out. This is the quagmire into which populist journalists inadvertently throw themselves. There is a tendency to always show that you are on the side of the people. You must, therefore, be seen to be asking the tough questions and not allowing the so-called failed leaders to get away scot-free. This tendency, however, is not always in line with standard journalism practice, which presupposes that the journalist must be seen to be neutral. 

In the prelude to the Adams Oshiomhle interview, a celebratory video of Comrade Oshiomohle and his APC colleagues was played. This was followed by a video of the Acting Chairman of the PDP, Umar Damagun, condemning the election, and after that, a video of Asue Ighodalo, the PDP candidate in the election was played, where he also condemned the election. It did not stop there, a video of the remarks by YIAGA Africa, condemning the election and its outcome was played, with Seun voicing over it. 

You could imagine how Comrade Oshiomohle was feeling watching these visuals and listening to Seun talk with glee about the opposition condemning the election for which INEC had declared his party the APC as winner. By the time Seun put the first question to Comrade Oshiomohle, the Senator was already on the defensive. This colored the interview and prevented it from being engaging and interesting, as it descended into a combat of wits between the anchor and the guest. An opportunity to get relevant facts from the senator was therefore lost. 

Journalists are taught to make their guests comfortable and lure them into a false sense of security by creating the impression of being on their side. When the guest is preening himself believing that the interview is a PR job, then the journalist would strike with the tough questions and catch him off-guard. These guidelines were completely absent in Seun’s approach to the interview, as he traded accusations with Oshiomohle.

I have also observed that Rufai Oseni of the Arise News Channel is also guilty of the same populist approach to interviewing guests. The on-air decorum of a journalist is usually thrown overboard in his case, with him showing signs of being prepared to go into fisticuffs with guests. Incidentally, these two political journalists are very popular, as they are riding on the mood of the times. We must, however, draw the line between good journalism practice, which presupposes that a journalist must be decorous, civil and respectful to guests, and populist journalism, which tends to be combative. 

A journalist must not force or coerce answers from respondents but is taught to be patient and persistent. In addition, a journalist must master the art of being able to couch the same question in different ways until he receives an answer. That is journalism. Despite the acceptance of Populist Journalism, it is important to remind our people that all that glitters is not gold. Our final admonition, therefore, is that all those who practice journalism must do so in accordance with the tenets of the profession.