Haatuf newspaper is busy engaged re-activating the wounds of somaliland civil war that we healed from its affect
Journalism is a method of inquiry and literary style used in social and cultural representation. It serves the purpose of playing the role of public service machinery in the dissemination and analysis of news and information. Journalistic integrity is based on the principles of truth, accuracy and factual knowledge. Journalistic mediums can vary diversely, from print publishing to electronic broadcasting and from newspaper to television channels, as well as to the websites.
Journalism adapts basic ethics and standards. The newspaper must see that its own health is dependent on the health of dozens of other agencies which pull people out of their private worlds. comprise set of principles of ethics and of good practice as applicable to the specific challenges faced by journalists. Traditionally, this subset of media ethics widely known to journalists as their professional of ethics or the canons of journalism. In addition to the legal rights and obligations set forth in the relevant legal norms, the media have an ethical responsibility towards citizens and society which must be underlined at the present time, when information and communication play a very important role in the formation of citizens’ personal attitudes and the development of society and democratic life.
The journalist’s profession comprises rights and obligations, freedoms and responsibilities. The basic principle of any ethical consideration of journalism is that a clear distinction must be drawn between news and opinions, making it impossible to confuse them. News is information about facts and data, while opinions convey thoughts, ideas, beliefs or value judgments on the part of media companies, publishers or journalists.News broadcasting should be based on truthfulness, ensured by the appropriate means of verification and proof, and impartiality in presentation, description and narration. Rumour must not be confused with news. News headlines and summaries must reflect as closely as possible the substance of the facts and data presented. Expression of opinions may entail thoughts or comments on general ideas or remarks on news relating to actual events. Although opinions are necessarily subjective and therefore cannot and should not be made subject to the criterion of truthfulness, we must should not consider opinions or personal wish and rumors as a news as accustomed by Haatuf newspaper on various occasions.
Haatuf newspaper never observes the sets of principles listed above, as the same was established to promote only tribal interest. This newspaper is engaged dividing society into tribal divisions. Every prominent and respected personality outside their inner clan is considered as less important or no significant value whereas many that we consider them as war lords treated by them as Mujaahid.The word Mujhid was taken from Islamic Arabic source which means fighting for Islamic cause against enemy of non -believers. In the event that Haatuf titled as Mujahid those who are famous in our civil wars, it is their choice, however, we consider them as war lords. This newspaper is actively engaged renew the memory of Somali-land civil war in 1994 – 1997, which people of Somali-land healed from its consequence.
I do remember an occasion which this newspaper reported that, the chairman of Acid party has taken US $ 300,000.00 from Jamal Ali Hussein (Candidate president of Acid party). This news headline not conforming to approved standards of social or professional behavior; “unethical business practices, which is contrary to conscience or morality or law. The chairman of the party must have raised this false reported by this tribal based vision newspaper to the court of law. Fiasal Ali Waraabe (The chairman of Acid party) supported my evidence when he said earlier this newspaper certainly not reported any incident, which they write about personality within their inner clan. In conclusion this newspaper is established conducting character assignations of prominent, well-known, respected and noble personalities other than their clan and this an evidence that, the subject newspaper is busy reactivating the wounds of our civil war, which the people of Somali-land healed from its affect. The continuity of this behavior by this newspaper is potential risk to our shared interest.
Ismail lugweyne.