The Chief Executive officer of the National Public Procurement Authority (NPPA), Ibrahim Brima Swarry has delivered a public lecture on the role of the media in today’s society at the Auditorium of the University of Makeni.
The Theme of the discussion was
“The role of journalism in contemporary society; (the good and bad) taking ethical considerations for media practitioners”.
The lecture was organised by the Mass Communication Department of the University of Makeni.
In his speech, the NPPA Boss said today’s media has become part of everyone’s life. He stressed that the media plays a major role in society, adding that the media has become food to strengthen or weaken society.
He went further to explain that the purpose of the media is to give information about current events, gossip and fashion using the latest gadgets. He further stressed that the role of the media is one way of trading and marketing products, and prejudices. “It gives geographical knowledge about how people are divided. The media claims to be governed by righteousness and equity for both the common and the rich man” he explained.
He said the media is in charge of information, education, entertainment, advancement and correlation of parts of society.
Mr Swarray explained that society is influenced by the media in several ways.
“It is the media for the masses that helps them to get information about a lot of things and form opinions and make a judgment regarding various issues. It is the media that keeps people updated about what is happening around them that everyone draws something from”, he revealed.
He said the Media is considered a “mirror” of modern society. In effect, he said, it is the media that shapes society’s lives.
“It takes discipline not to let social media steal one’s time.
The media has had bad effects on the current generation mainly because the youth is strongly influenced by it. Teenagers and children are intended to follow people who are recognized and follow what they do to get noticed. Sometimes they focus on the bad aspects of the media” he noted.
