By Sulemana Braimah (Suleb2016@gmail.com)
Last week, Joy FM reported that the foreign minister, Hon. Hannah Tetteh, had told a reporter of the station that she will not talk to Joy FM. According to the report, the minister’s ‘snubbing’ of the station happened when the reporter had called her to request for an interview on the xenophobic attacks in South Africa. Since the incident happened, it has understandably attracted a lot of public commentary.
Well, first of all, I think it must be accepted that it is normal for anyone, including a minister, to decline an interview request on any issue and by any media organisation. Yes, the issue may be important and the prospective interviewee may be the right person to speak on the issue, but he or she has the right to decline without giving reasons.
So fundamentally, just like any politician or public official, the foreign minister has the right and the prerogative to decide to grant or not to grant an interview with any media organisation without giving reasons. But I also know (or hope) that people are not begrudging the foreign minister because they think she has to, at all times, be prepared to speak to every radio station that calls her on an issue.
I also hope that those begrudging the minister are not doing so because the matter involves a big station – Joy FM. In other words, will people raise the same concerns if the incident had happened on Radio Garki in Saboba, Trickie FM in Enchi, Quality FM in Garu, Jubilee Radio in Keta or Radio Radford in Tumu?
In fact, journalists at Joy FM know better than I do, that having a prospective interviewee decline an interview is just a part of the game. They know it is very normal, regardless of the issue at stake, and the designation or position of the prospective interviewee. I am sure journalists at the station would have experienced several disappointing moments when a prominent person they wish to speak to on an important matter will say no to an interview request. So the folks at Joy FM were or can’t be bitter because a minister had declined an interview request.
I think the problem is in what according to the Joy FM report, was a snobbish act on the part of the minister. I am not sure if the minister had politely told the journalist that she was not able to grant an interview on the issue to Joy FM at the time, there would have been an issue.
On the basis of the Joy FM report (is it was an accurate reflection of the full facts), one will conclude that the minister simply displayed arrogance and needless snobbery. And that couldn’t have been right especially from a foreign minister.
Well, in the end, it is the Minister who will be the loser, not Joy FM. Yes, there are many radio stations she can resort to, but not many are as prominent and credible as Joy FM. By virtue of her position, she is a newsmaker, not doubt about that. But there are many other prominent newsmakers out there. She is the foreign minister now, but she won’t be forever.
So yes, it is within the right of every individual to choose what medium they want to deal with, but as a minister, it is politically imprudent to pick up a fight with a big media organisation such as Multi-media.
The Craze for Headlines
There an increasing obsession with headline-seeking interviewing. When an issue happens, instead of digging deeper to find the real facts, causes and the various perspectives to the issue, what is done to simply call people to ask their views? In the process, experts are created overnight and those interested in making politically-charged statements, become the newsmakers.
Since the Hanna Tetteh-Joy FM story was reported, I have been amazed at the craze by journalists to get quick interviews all for headlines on the matter. I have opted to decline all requests for interview on the matter. I declined the requests not because the issue is not important or out of disrespect for the journalists who sought to give me an interview opportunity.
I declined the interview requests because I was convinced that the journalists seeking the interviews hadn't done what I thought they ought to do in order to get other perspectives to the story for their readers and audience.
I felt there is a story to be told but not by me. I felt the journalists could go beyond the keypads on the telephones. So I declined, except that I didn't do so the Hannah Tetteh way (that's if the Joy FM’s account and connotations are a reflection of the full facts). Let me tell you more about why I declined the interviews.
First of all, as it has turned out, it is an issue involving Joy FM and the foreign minister. We all got to know about the issue through a Joy FM report. Remember, Joy FM is one of the 'parties' in the conflict. Of course, the Joy FM report talked about (or at least suggested), the Minister said she won’t talk to them as a station and not that she didn’t want to talk to the media on the matter. But that was the story of one party in the conflict – Joy FM.
The report by Joy FM did not say the minister gave reasons for refusing to talk to the station. Nonetheless (and legitimately so), the Joy FM report alluded to previous developments, which could have been the reasons for the Minister's action. I am tempted to believe the background information by the station because, months ago, I heard about the stand-off between Multi-media and the minister.
So given the salience of the issue and the fact that we only heard the Joy FM side of the story, I was hoping that journalists from other media organisations would have tried to get the minister’s version to the story. No, that was not what many journalists were interested in. What was and has remained important to them is getting more headlines for the story through statements from people who will just act on the basis of the Joy FM report.
So for the requests I declined, the pre-interview conversations with the journalists on the phone went like the narration below, after which we will mutually and respectfully agree to abort the interview:
Journalist: Mr. Braimah, we want to talk to you about the decision of the foreign minister not to talk to Joy FM
Me: Who said the foreign minister has made a decision not to talk to Joy FM?
Journalist: Oh Joy FM has reported it, haven't you heard or read it online?
The line drops, thanks to our almighty telephone companies. Then the call comes in.
Journalist: Mr. Braimah, sorry the line dropped. I was saying that Joy FM has reported the story. Haven't you heard or read it online
Me: Oh, I read a story like that reported by Joy FM saying the minister had said she will not talk to them. But I did not see that part that said that is a decision by the minister. Ok, but have you spoken to the minister for her side of the story, since Joy FM is a party in the 'conflict'?
Journalist: Oh yes, we have called the minister but she didn't pick our call.
Me: When did you call her, how many times? And have you tried getting an appointment with her? What other things have you done to have her side of the story?
Journalist: Oh, we have called her several times this morning. But she didn't pick. I am told that's how she is, she doesn't pick up calls.
Me: I see. But the Joy FM story said you mentioned had said they spoke to her on the phone. And even as she did not want to speak to them she picked, or? Anyway, but why would you assume that calling the foreign minister just this morning without a response from her is enough effort on your part? And why would you for a moment talk as if the minister must be able to pick up all calls at all times? Ok, but have you tried speaking to Joy FM?
Journalist: Oh no, Joy FM reported the story, so I think there is no need talking to them again.
Me: Well, you see, right now you want me to comment based on what Joy FM has reported and I haven't heard a reaction from the minister. The absence of a reaction by the Minister may mean that what Joy FM has reported is entirely true, but it may not also be so. So why don't you make an effort to develop this important story further with new angles and facts by trying all you can to get a word from the Minister or her spokesperson (if she has one). You know, if you are able to demonstrate you have made great efforts but the Minister wouldn’t just speak, that is another angle to the story.
And also, Joy FM reported the story and even gave some reasons for which the minister may have acted the way she is reported to have acted. So I think having the views of the news editor or someone like that at Joy will enrich your story than me expressing my views based on a report by Joy FM. I think you will have a great story and will be giving your audience and readers some other insights into the story. What do you think?
Journalist: Ok, I think I will try that.
Me: Ok, great. Thank you for your patience and best wishes.
I think our journalists should endeavour to do a bit of the hard work that lead to great stories and cut back on the telephone journalism!!!
