LTV Show and the Noise Around it =================== BetyTafese (of LTV Show) seems to have tested the limits of our society's tolerance to journalistic insistence on posing hard questions to politicians.
LTV Show and the Noise Around it
===================
BetyTafese (of LTV Show) seems to have tested the limits of our society's tolerance to journalistic insistence on posing hard questions to politicians.
In a country where the media hardly challenges politicians to account for their words, decisions, and deeds, Bety's baby steps at confronting public figures (including politicians, activists, preachers, and civic society leaders) with hard and critical questions has touched nerves in some corners.
In my view, the interview she had with Dr Desalegn (of አብን) last week was nothing different from her other interviews. (And to his credit, unlike the villain his adversaries have tried to make out of him, I think Dr Desalegn did well actually. He stood his ground. I think he explained what he was asked to explain in as much as he could; he has expressed his concerns, causes, and plans in the best way he thought he could; and above all, he showed readiness to apologize for excesses in expressions. Throughout, he was calm and composed in handling the questions. And that is as it should be.)
It seems to me that the exaggerated noise around it is caused, not by how Bety conducted the interview, but rather by how he was taunted on social media for his responses there, and how angrily his supporters reacted to that.
It's probably the 'petitions' of the latter group that forced the Broadcasting Authority to move quickly to give an oral feedback to LTV and to request that the show gets removed from their page.
I think the move was unnecessary. And it will have a damaging consequence for the budding independent-minded journalism.
The Broadcasting authority needs to stay above the fray and restrain itself from encroaching upon media autonomy and journalistic independence even in the face of hostile public opinion. It should not allow public opinion to intimidate a journalist into silence for any other reason than failing to adhere to professional code of conduct and the relevant media laws that circumscribe journalistic freedom.
The democracy we are longing for demands that we have fearless journalists and courageous media institutions that can hold public offices to account for their statements, decisions, and performances/failures. Contrary to our tradition, I think our journalists need to start asking tough questions and producing piercing works of investigative journalism.
Bety's LTV Show was just beginning to do that, and it should be encouraged as such.
Whatever the noise around this episode, Bety should not be cowed by the public opinion or by the regulatory body's excesses.
#Go_Bety #I_Stand_With_LTV_Show
===================
BetyTafese (of LTV Show) seems to have tested the limits of our society's tolerance to journalistic insistence on posing hard questions to politicians.
In a country where the media hardly challenges politicians to account for their words, decisions, and deeds, Bety's baby steps at confronting public figures (including politicians, activists, preachers, and civic society leaders) with hard and critical questions has touched nerves in some corners.
In my view, the interview she had with Dr Desalegn (of አብን) last week was nothing different from her other interviews. (And to his credit, unlike the villain his adversaries have tried to make out of him, I think Dr Desalegn did well actually. He stood his ground. I think he explained what he was asked to explain in as much as he could; he has expressed his concerns, causes, and plans in the best way he thought he could; and above all, he showed readiness to apologize for excesses in expressions. Throughout, he was calm and composed in handling the questions. And that is as it should be.)
It seems to me that the exaggerated noise around it is caused, not by how Bety conducted the interview, but rather by how he was taunted on social media for his responses there, and how angrily his supporters reacted to that.
It's probably the 'petitions' of the latter group that forced the Broadcasting Authority to move quickly to give an oral feedback to LTV and to request that the show gets removed from their page.
I think the move was unnecessary. And it will have a damaging consequence for the budding independent-minded journalism.
The Broadcasting authority needs to stay above the fray and restrain itself from encroaching upon media autonomy and journalistic independence even in the face of hostile public opinion. It should not allow public opinion to intimidate a journalist into silence for any other reason than failing to adhere to professional code of conduct and the relevant media laws that circumscribe journalistic freedom.
The democracy we are longing for demands that we have fearless journalists and courageous media institutions that can hold public offices to account for their statements, decisions, and performances/failures. Contrary to our tradition, I think our journalists need to start asking tough questions and producing piercing works of investigative journalism.
Bety's LTV Show was just beginning to do that, and it should be encouraged as such.
Whatever the noise around this episode, Bety should not be cowed by the public opinion or by the regulatory body's excesses.
#Go_Bety #I_Stand_With_LTV_Show
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