by Dr. Assan Jallow.
The Gambia currently does not exemplify journalism, nor does it accurately present it. Instead, it features a far more toxic variant, which I describe as ‘catharsis porn’: an eruption of anger, arrogance, and emotional displays that are misconstrued as news. This media culture is sustained not by the pursuit of truth but by sensationalism and theatricality. This can be equally said of the media in Senegal.
It is not solely the tone but also the trade-offs that constitute the tragedy. The majority of individuals responsible for informing the public have compromised their integrity to pursue influence and their objectivity to secure obedience. They do not originate the news; instead, they reiterate it under the influence of unseen authorities who manipulate them from behind the scenes. This does not constitute journalism; it is an act performed in the service of power.
To exacerbate the situation, our newsrooms have now become mere cannon fodder. They tend to reuse information reported elsewhere without proper context or critical analysis. The outcome is a vacant media landscape where identical narratives are reiterated, uniform voices are amplified, and relevant facts are overlooked.
Such selective narration does not occur without purpose. It signifies a deliberate bias and serves as a euphemism for creative manipulation. Dissenting opinions are muffled, subversive stories are buried, and op-eds giving a different perspective are censored. What we are left with is a smooth text of authority, a dichotomous discourse which polarizes the world into heroes and villains, truth and falsehood, us and them.
This represents not only a violation of journalistic ethics but also a betrayal of the public’s trust. Journalism is regarded not as a luxury but as a vital public good. It functions as the oxygen of democracy. With a corrupted civil ecosystem, the entire system will be at risk of collapse.
However, it does not necessarily have to be this manner.
Being a journalistic task is not impossible. It requires no connection to authority, no flair for theatrics, and no patron. The core principles revolve around upholding balance, precision, and objectivity. This encompasses diligent effort, posing challenging questions, verifying facts, and narrating the complete story, even when faced with inconvenience.
The Gambia deserves better. We are entitled to a media that informs us, not provokes us. Not superficially investigates. That benefits the people, not the powerful.
It’s time to return journalism to the focus on spectacle and restore it as a force for truth, accountability, and democracy.
