This archive report was first published on 24 November 2019.
Media's Moral Dilemma: Balancing Profit and Integrity ¶
On November 23, 2019, Ezekiel Mutua, CEO of the Kenya Film Classification Board, expressed his concern about the state of the media industry in a Facebook post. He observed that most top news items on TV channels were about murder, rape, negative politics, and prostitution, presented in a gross manner that left presenters appearing traumatized.
Many people on social media concurred with Mutua, confessing to having abandoned watching news or TV altogether. The question is: What drives the media's slant towards the bizarre, immoral, or negative broadcasting?
According to Mutua, the media is succumbing to the same temptations Jesus faced in the desert. The Devil challenged Jesus to turn stones into bread, show him the splendor of the world, and jump down from the highest point of the temple. These temptations fall into key areas of human need – passions, possessions, and power.
The media industry exists to gratify our passion for information, education, and entertainment. However, as Jesus observed, bread alone cannot sustain human life. The spirit must equally be fed. The media must therefore sharpen our minds and tickle our ribs with content that also feeds or guards the soul.
The second temptation has to do with profit. Every media practitioner has a legitimate need for profit, but individuals and corporates have sacrificed values, ethics, and morals at the altar of mammon. Mainstream media is increasingly succumbing to the lure of money, with pornographic and violent shows, toxic adverts, and vulgar live discussions becoming prevalent.
The final temptation had to do with power – the pursuit of personal or corporate brand. Having taken Jesus to the highest peak of the temple, the devil challenged Him to jump down if He was truly the Son of God, and the angels would rescue Him. This was a call for Jesus to prove His mettle and establish His brand – a temptation many media personalities and media houses face.
Thus, the pathway of media personalities is littered with many wrecked lives. It does appear therefore that to survive the media industry, individuals and corporates must be alive to the schemes of the devil and remain true to the call to inform, educate, and entertain, while maintaining the highest levels of integrity.
