Don't fight the media
Over the past few months there have been artists who took to social media to share their disappointment with some media houses and some of their journalists. The journalists usually in question are entertainment journalists and radio personalities. I am not an entertainment journalist but I've been watching from the touchlines as the petty fights go on.
There needs to be a clear distinction that has to be made - the media and its journalists need artists and vice versa. Artists are not better than journalists and journalists are not greater than the artists. Whether we want it or not we both need one another to get the best out of each of our jobs. The media needs to expose and cover the artists and the artists need the promotion, expertise and reach of the media houses. Some radio personalities and entertainment journalists have over the past few years been accused of favouring a few other artists over others while ignoring others. Whether it is true or not that media personalities are favouring artists… it is not my platform to speak on that. Some media personalities have been accused of trying to be celebrities themselves instead of covering celebrities. I am not sure how it works but I have seen many entertainment journalists build their brands and following based on their reputation as reporters and not because they are trying to be famous. Whether we want it or not, journalists do have some sort of fame attached to their name, that's just the nature of the industry we operate in. Journalists are usually judged on the merit of their work and their ethics. Entertainment journalists over the years have made it a point in their work to unearth new artists, document the careers of Namibian artists and present an accurate representation of the Namibian entertainment industry. The journalists I speak to have made it possible for the industry to grow and the remarkable pace it is at right now. Journalists have taken some artists from their small studio rooms into the hearts of their adoring fans through radio, TV, newspapers and many other forms of media. I am not discrediting the hard work and dedication of the artists and their talent and as well as contributions to the entertainment industry, but I am highlighting all the ways that journalists and artists can work together to serve the entertainment industry.
“Elke persoon in hulle se baan” if we really want to work together peacefully. Let us not fight one another, but appreciate all the efforts we put into making the industry at large very successful.
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There needs to be a clear distinction that has to be made - the media and its journalists need artists and vice versa. Artists are not better than journalists and journalists are not greater than the artists. Whether we want it or not we both need one another to get the best out of each of our jobs. The media needs to expose and cover the artists and the artists need the promotion, expertise and reach of the media houses. Some radio personalities and entertainment journalists have over the past few years been accused of favouring a few other artists over others while ignoring others. Whether it is true or not that media personalities are favouring artists… it is not my platform to speak on that. Some media personalities have been accused of trying to be celebrities themselves instead of covering celebrities. I am not sure how it works but I have seen many entertainment journalists build their brands and following based on their reputation as reporters and not because they are trying to be famous. Whether we want it or not, journalists do have some sort of fame attached to their name, that's just the nature of the industry we operate in. Journalists are usually judged on the merit of their work and their ethics. Entertainment journalists over the years have made it a point in their work to unearth new artists, document the careers of Namibian artists and present an accurate representation of the Namibian entertainment industry. The journalists I speak to have made it possible for the industry to grow and the remarkable pace it is at right now. Journalists have taken some artists from their small studio rooms into the hearts of their adoring fans through radio, TV, newspapers and many other forms of media. I am not discrediting the hard work and dedication of the artists and their talent and as well as contributions to the entertainment industry, but I am highlighting all the ways that journalists and artists can work together to serve the entertainment industry.
“Elke persoon in hulle se baan” if we really want to work together peacefully. Let us not fight one another, but appreciate all the efforts we put into making the industry at large very successful.
[email protected]
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Namibian Sun
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