The Role of the Mainstream Media in Mitigating Security Threats in Africa

Abstract

With key focus on assessing the role of the mainstream media in mitigating security threats in Africa: a case of Kenya and Somalia, the study sought to assess the effectiveness of the mainstream media in contributing to the mitigation of security threats in the Africa’s countries of Kenya and Somalia, determining the positive and negative impacts of the mainstream media in mitigating security threats in the Africa countries’ of Kenya and Somalia and establishing the prospects and challenges facing the mainstream media in their role in mitigating security threats in the Africa countries’ of Kenya and Somalia. The study has noted that Security dynamics around the globe have become increasingly complex and multidimensional thus necessitating multi-sectorial efforts in guaranteeing safety and security. Government security agencies, private firms, nongovernmental organizations, and the mainstream media are increasingly having a role to play on matters pertaining to security. Mainstream media exposure of security related matters is widely effective in contributing to the mitigation of security threats. For example, wide mainstream media coverage of terror threats, anti-extremism and radicalization messages have made successful contribution in the prevention of widespread terrorism. The study has found that mainstream media can make both positive and negative impacts in efforts geared towards mitigating security threats. The mainstream media in certain countries has acted as a third party watchdog highlighting to the public local problems and bringing out hidden stories through investigative reporting. Mainstream media can also influence policy decisions particularly as policy makers think of how they can prevent and respond to emerging security threats. In South Africa, for example, the mainstream media has played an important role in motivating the general public to push policy makers on intervening and addressing emerging security challenges. The mainstream media has also served as a tool security agencies can use to pass across their message. The study has found that mainstream media is faced with a number of challenges in their role in mitigating security threats. The challenges include economic constraints, prohibitive regulations, declining freedom of information, commercialization of news, strained cooperation between the government and mainstream media outlets and many more. In terms of economic constraints, the study has found that that funding for many mainstream media organizations is declining due to audience fragmentation across different existing mainstream media. The study recommends that media freedom should be secured to ensure effective performance of mainstream media as a gatekeeper in charge of setting agendas, filtering issues and maintaining a balance of views. The mainstream media should not be censored since it plays different roles in mitigation of security. For example, in certain countries the mainstream media usually acts as a third party watchdog that provides the public with information on local problems.