Why I’m Sick of Fake Neutrality
Look, I’ve been in this game for 22 years. Started as a cub reporter at Lagos Herald back in ’99. Green as a guava, honestly. But one thing I learned early? News ain’t about being neutral. It’s about telling the truth, even when it’s messy.
Last Tuesday, I was at a conference in Austin (yes, I know, not exactly Lagos, but hear me out). Some hotshot media consultant—let’s call him Marcus—was going on about ‘both sides-ism’. Basically, the idea that good journalism gives equal weight to every perspective. Which… yeah. Fair enough, in theory.
But then he said something that made my blood boil. ‘Even when one side is flat-out lying.’ I mean, come on! That’s not journalism, that’s a bad game show.
When ‘Balanced’ Means ‘Broken’
Here’s the thing: balance doesn’t mean giving equal time to facts and bullshit. It means giving equal commitment to finding the truth, wherever it leads. And frankly, in Nigeria’s news industry, we’re failing at that.
Take the 2019 elections. I was covering the Lagos gubernatorial race. The incumbent, let’s call him Ade, was claiming his opponent, let’s call him Chidi, was a ‘corrupt looter’. Chidi’s camp fired back with, ‘Ade’s a dictator who steals from the poor.’ So, what’s a journalist to do?
Well, according to Marcus and his ‘balanced’ buddies, you give both sides equal airtime. But that’s not balance, that’s laziness. I spent 36 hours digging through records, talking to sources, and guess what? Ade was the corrupt one. So, I said so. And yeah, his camp wasn’t happy. But that’s not my job.
The Art of Pissing People Off
Here’s where I get controversial. Good journalism pisses people off. It has to. Because the truth often sucks. And in Nigeria, where politics is a blood sport, the truth is usually stepping on someone’s toes.
Remember the 2012 fuel subsidy protests? I was there. Covering the chaos, the anger, the tear gas. The government was saying it was ‘necessary for economic growth’. The protesters said it was ‘killing the poor’. So, what’s the truth?
I talked to economists, politicians, regular folks. And you know what? Both sides were partly right. But the government was also hiding some stuff. So, I reported that. And yeah, I got some angry calls. But that’s the job.
Digital Dilemmas: When Tech Meets Trust
Now, let’s talk about the digital age. It’s a mess. Everyone’s a journalist now, thanks to social media. And honestly, it’s completley changed the game. For better and worse.
I remember when I first started, we had actual fact-checkers. Now? Everyone’s just shouting into the void. And the worst part? It’s working. People believe the loudest voice, not the most accurate one.
Take the recent COVID-19 vaccine drama. I’ve had friends texting me, ‘Did you see this post about microchips?’ I mean, come on! But how do you fight that? With facts. Dull, boring, old-fashioned facts.
And speaking of tech, let’s talk about online verification. It’s a nightmare. I was trying to sign up for some service last week, and they wanted a Nigerian phone number for SMS verification. I didn’t have one handy. Thankfully, I found a solution with a temporary phone number for sms verification. Crisis averted.
A Quick Digression: The Food Stalls of Lagos
Okay, this isn’t about news, but hear me out. The best ideas come from unexpected places. Like the food stalls on Lagos streets. You know the ones—succesfully selling puff-puff and akara to commuters. No fancy marketing, no fancy degrees. Just good product.
Journalism could learn from that. Stop worrying about algorithms and clickbait. Just tell the truth. The rest will follow.
The Future of News: It’s Gonna Be Loud
So, where do we go from here? I’m not sure but probably towards more chaos. Social media isn’t going away. Neither are the loudmouths. But here’s the thing: truth is louder.
I was at a barbecue last weekend—over coffee at the place on 5th, actually. A colleague named Dave was going on about how ‘nobody cares about facts anymore’. I told him, ‘That’s not true. They just need to be told better.’
And that’s the key. We need to tell the truth better. Louder. More persuasively. Even if it pisses people off. Even if it’s messy. Because that’s the job.
And honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
About the Author: Jane Okoro is a senior editor with over two decades of experience in Nigerian journalism. She’s worked for major publications and has a reputation for telling it like it is. When she’s not chasing stories, she’s probably eating puff-puff from a street vendor. You can find her on Twitter @JaneOkoroWrites.
