By Hosea Parah
A Professor of Mass Communication and Deputy Vice Chancellor, Paul Univetsity, Awka, Chinyere Stella Okunna has charged Nigerian journalists and editors to deploy the power of the media responsibly to protect democracy, insisting that neutrality in election coverage must not be confused with silence, indifference or false balance.
Okunna, a professor of Mass Communication, made the call in a presentation titled “Neutrality, Professionalism and Election Security in Democratic Governance,” delivered against the backdrop of the critical role of the media in Nigeria’s democratic process.
She described the Press as the “oxygen of democracy,” stressing that citizens require accurate and adequate information to make responsible decisions, particularly during elections.
According to her, the enormous power of the media derives from its ability to gather, process and disseminate information to millions of people while simultaneously setting the public agenda and shaping perceptions.
She identified agenda-setting, framing, status-conferral, gatekeeping and watchdog journalism as some of the major ways through which the media exercise influence over society.
Okunna warned that these powers could either strengthen or undermine democracy, depending on how responsibly journalists and editors deploy them.
She explained that through agenda-setting, the media determine the issues that receive public attention, while framing influences how audiences perceive those issues, candidates and events.
“Given the media’s framing power in this regard, the slants given by media professionals to their stories on candidates and issues in any election, through how they frame such candidates and issues, become very important,” she said.
On neutrality, Okunna drew a distinction between impartial journalism and what she described as the failure to report documented electoral wrongdoing.
She argued that neutrality should not mean ignoring verified electoral malpractice or creating a false equivalence between established facts and unverified claims.
According to her, journalists should maintain impartiality, balance and objectivity among legitimate political contenders, while remaining committed to the credibility and integrity of the electoral process itself.
She said: “Neutrality is not silence. It is not indifference. It is not false balance.”
The professor also placed professionalism at the centre of credible election reporting, stressing the importance of training, adherence to journalistic ethics, truth, accuracy, impartiality and balance.
She, however, noted that professionalism could not be separated from the economic conditions under which journalists operate.
Okunna maintained that where journalists remain poorly remunerated or salaries are unpaid for prolonged periods, ethical appeals alone would not sufficiently address the structural challenges confronting professional journalism.
On election security, she broadened the concept beyond the physical protection of voters, electoral officials, materials and infrastructure.
She argued that the safety of journalists covering elections should also be regarded as an important component of election security because the media provide an essential mechanism for transparency and public scrutiny of the electoral process.
She warned that an election could not be considered fully secure if journalists were prevented from safely observing and reporting the process.
Drawing on the Social Responsibility Theory of the Press, Okunna urged editors to recognise that press freedom comes with a corresponding obligation to serve the public interest.
She challenged editors to critically examine the issues they place on their media agenda, the manner in which they frame political actors and electoral issues, and the individuals or groups to whom they confer visibility, legitimacy and importance.
She further urged editors to use their gatekeeping powers to promote content that supports credible elections while resisting materials capable of undermining democratic processes.
Okunna also reminded journalists of their watchdog responsibility, particularly in holding government officials and political actors seeking public office accountable.
She questioned whether the Nigerian media were still performing their watchdog role effectively or had become too close to political and government interests.
She therefore called on media professionals to remain sufficiently independent to scrutinise those in power and those seeking power, insisting that the ultimate responsibility of journalism in a democracy is to serve the public interest.
She concluded by urging editors to recognise the enormous influence they wield and to deploy it in ways that strengthen electoral credibility, democratic governance and public confidence in the electoral process.