Mmegi

Even flawed journalism is often better than no journalism at all

 Nkhoma
Nkhoma

Even flawed journalism is often better than no journalism at all. However, this is not an excuse for poor reporting but a caution against the dangerous notion that Botswana’s entire media profession has somehow “failed the nation” as some voices have recently argued in the wake of Bridget Motsepe’s exoneration from the P100 billion saga.

Criticism of the media is healthy and necessary in a democracy. However, sweeping condemnations lack nuance, evidence and ultimately misunderstand the media’s role in society. Journalism does not operate in a vacuum.

As scholars such as Denis McQuail have long explained, the media reflects and interrogates society while simultaneously being shaped by it. It is not a puppet simply “playing a script” as some critics claim.

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