With the proliferation of private radio stations and online publications, the media profession has attracted some very unprofessional behaviour among those who ply the trade.Many online publications act with impunity, abuse, harass, gossip unfounded, or even, infantile rumours. They are free to do so because in most cases they are “untouchable” as it is difficult to police them.Then we have our radio stations: Many have fallen off the moralpedestal. They broadcast openly pornographic content, especially late at night, on the pretext of teaching culture, their phone-ins are unregulated but they don’t seem bothered.There is also another band of broadcasters; the talk-show hosts. One might forgive their larger than life images they create forthemselves, the know-it-all experts who have the edge in any subject, but once it comes to personal abuse and disrespect, that is crossing the red line.One local wannabe station has made it a habit of not fearing to use abusive language, especially in the run-up to the upcoming football leadership elections, pouring scorn – in a very uneducated manner – against some candidatesWhile the media have their independence and should protect it fiercely, they should also respect the rights of others, respect the professional code of ethics and do away with abusive and shameful language.The least the media self regulation body can do is reign in the rogue media houses and bring them back to their senses, otherwise the current atmosphere vividly brings up memories of the pre-Genocide era, where politicians used the media for their own ends with disastrous consequences.
