MEDIA actors from across the continent concluded a 2-day forum in Nairobi, Kenya during which they reflected on their own role in managing diversity during elections as part of ongoing consultations and research that will feed into the forthcoming African Governance Report 'AGR III.Held on the theme, Elections and the Management of Diversity in Africa, the participants shared candid personal accounts that highlighted the complexities and the challenges of remaining ethical and objective in the height of conflict, or while covering electoral controversies.The African Governance Report (AGR) is the most comprehensive report of governance on the continent, which assesses and monitors the progress various countries are making on governance; gauges citizens' perceptions on the state of governance in their respective countries; identifies best practices, progress achieved and challenges encountered including capacity gaps in governance institutions and makes appropriate policy recommendation and strategic intervention aimed at improving governance on the continent.The Report, according to the AGR coordinator, Dr. said Adejumobi, adopts a unique methodology that combines three research instruments: (i) a national expert opinion survey (ii) national scientific household survey and (iii) a desk research.However the methodology for the AGR III deviates slightly from previous AGRs as the focus group discussion replaces the national household survey. There are three outputs from the AGR project '' the AGR continental report, the National Country Reports, and the Country Profiles. The AGR has become a major instrument for policy making and dialogue on governance on the continent, a reference material for scholars, policy makers and practitioner and background material used in the APRM process in many African countries.Among the Nigerian contingent that graced the event were Prof. Adigun Agbaje of the Department of Political Science, University of Ibadan, Editor (Sun on Sunday) Ms. Funke Egbemode, Deputy Editor-In-Chief, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr. Joe Bankole, founder and publisher of Saharareporters, Mr. Omoyele Sowore, and founding Executive Director, Rise Magazine, Ms. Toyosi Akerele.Kenyan journalists in particular highlighted the lessons learnt during the post-election violence the country went through in 2007 /2008.'None of us was prepared for the events that occurred, coverage was complex and none of us knew what we were expected to do ' it is unfair to blame the media for the failures of government institutions,' they said.Major media outlets decided to shift reporting methods and employed self-censorship when referring to incidents and atrocities. 'We made deliberate efforts to avoid naming ethnicities, preferring geographical references or general terms such as 'communities' in order to unify the country,' the meeting learnt.The stakes in elections in Africa, according to Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Mr. Aeneas Chuma, are high, and the price paid by many countries and their citizens has been equally high, and this is what needs to be interrogated. 'We need to evolve a democratic culture for elections, whereby elections are not a zero sum game, where the 'winner takes all', but a process were the wishes of the majority prevail without compromising on the rights of the minority', said Chuma.Saying that elections need to unite and forge national cohesion, and not divide and promote narrow self-centered agendas, he stressed that unity in diversity must be a clarion call in all electoral cycles.Chuma said questions on the post-election violence in Kenya, for example, have also cast doubt on the role of the media, who have been accused of engaging in biased reporting. 'However, it should also be remembered that the media was instrumental in campaigning for a peaceful referendum on the then draft Constitution of Kenya, which was promulgated in 2010.'There are immense lessons learned from these events and I would like to urge the national and regional media to continue being agents for peace, democratic, free and fair elections.'While the 90s was fraught with state hijacking of the media, the new battle-front today is control of content by big business and the danger of short-changing the public and not providing a public good, noted Agbaje.'The media gets crucified constantly, but it is often difficult to be remain 100 percent objective when media owners are looking over your shoulder, or when a member of your community is one you have to report on,' said the Nation Media Group's Emmanuel Juma.Debates emerged on the emergence of social media, which traditional print and electronic media actors view as threatening to 'quality and professional journalism.'But as underscored by Sowore, and Daudi Were from Ushahidi.com, new media (online media) can play a complimentary role and does not need to replace established traditional media. In addition, most mainstream media have embraced social media as it delivers information faster and in a more accessible and affordable manner.'During elections or major crisis events, we have been able to work with citizens to input real-time reports during elections on our platform, and linking mal-practices with authorities,' said Mr. Were.'The workshop was held in the context of an ongoing research project in 42 countries, which aims to deepen understanding of democracy, elections and diversity management in Africa. The findings are currently being collated through extensive surveys and will be published in the third edition of the African Governance Report (AGR-III). The report in its methodology will include the views of the media in its analysis.But noting that findings of the AGRII (2009), which indicate that the number of elections has risen across the continent. Between 1996 and 2006, 44 elections were conducted in Sub-Saharan Africa. For the years 2005 to 2007 alone, 26 presidential and 28 parliamentary elections were conducted.However, the tend is not bereft of challenges. Elections continue to trigger conflicts, polarize people, deepen ethic divisiveness and political violence and promote general insecurity.The issue of elections and diversity management, according to the organisers, UNECA, is one that the media has strategic role to play in, in terms of advocacy, policy reforms, and agenda setting. In many African countries, the media has been a strategic partner in the process of electoral reforms, prevention of electoral conflicts and the management of diversity in the electoral process. As indicated by the AGR II in 2009, 'the press and other media have been vigilant and active in exposing abuses of power and discretionary authority, demanding accountability and transparency from governments in Africa.'The AGR III workshop consequently seeks to anchor the role of the media better in the electoral process, diversity management and democratic consolidation in Africa by engaging and inputting into the AGR III project and forging an enduring partnership with the media on the process, findings, and policy reforms emanating from the report.
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