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KING: Why I see you so early this Friday morning? SUBJECT: As it pleases your Majesty the King, I want us to discuss the issue of "Journalism as a profession," before I take my Panoramic view.
KING: OK my subject, is that why you say journalists face problems with politicians? SUBJECT: Yes. KING: First of all, let's begin with the start of the job as a profession now. Let me ask you this question. Who is the first and most powerful "journalist"?
SUBJECT: Jehovah "God The Almighty".
KING: You are hundred percent correct! You know why?
SUBJECT: No. KING: Because He was the first, and is the first, the beginning and the ending. The alpha and the omega, who wrote and handed the Ten Commandment to Moses, who wrote the Book of Genesis in the Bible. Remember He spoke to Moses in the "burning bush".
SUBJECT: Yes King, but there were no journalists existing in those days you are talking about.
KING: They were existing. The word Journalese was used as an inferior language in Journalism. The word journalist is a person employed in writing for a news paper or magazine. "Journalism" is the noun, and journalists always go for the truth.
SUBJECT: But why is it that, they usually say in the court of Law, that the more the truth, the more libelous it is? KING: That is where the friction comes in, and there is much skepticism about that.
SUBJECT: But why? KING: I will tell you why: you see, take your Bible if you have one, and read the book of Matthew -10: 34-36, It reads: Do not think I came to put peace upon the earth; I came to put not peace; but a sword. 35; for I came to cause division, with a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a young wife against her mother-in-law. 36, says Indeed, a man's enemy or enemies will be persons of his own house hold. You see!
SUBJECT: But, "Jesus is the Prince" of peace, but why then did He say so in the Bible?
KING: Well, the answer is that Jesus was a wise man, he say things, or talks in parables.
SUBJECT: you always talk like a pastor.
KING: I have told you, that I am not one of them, but if at all, I hope to!
SUBJECT: Then as a Biblical student what do you think, Christ was trying to say?
KING: Well, what He was trying to say is that, where the truth and the lie confront each other, there is going to be friction. Because, Jesus is for the truth, and Satan the devil is for lie, you see, that was what he was trying to say.
SUBJECT: O King, the truth is as bright as day light. But then, why is it that journalists today face so much troubles. For example why is it that journalists face political, academic and economic mischief today?
KING: You see; politics has no rules.
SUBJECT: They can say this, when they mean something else is that what you want to say. KING: Yes, they make promises but don't fulfill them. They have good manifesto most times there are question marks. SUBJECT: When you talk of political and academic mischief what do you mean?
KING: First of all, when I talk of mischief I mean when annoying but not malicious at times, especially when one is academically mischievous, in the use of words.
SUBJECT: Now you start to say something that is very serious, though I stand to be corrected. However, if I were man enough, let me ask, why is it that some press in Sierra Leone, especially the print media is at each others' throats, with war of words? (a) Infact, as a journalist, I feel embarrassed at times when I read those news papers disseminating news items full of foul words. I should even call it (terminological inexatitude).
KING: That is true, I for one, cannot buy that. Let me say this to you; Jesus said to his disciples, that, a house divided against itself shall not stand. You see journalism is a professional job with respectable and honourable men and women, I see no reason why they should drag the dignity of the profession so low. I must advice, that we discourage people from casting aspersions on others in the profession.
SUBJECT: That is true; Let us put the Ernest Koroma "Attitudinal Change philosophy" for the better and progress for all now. We must all come together as one family in the struggle for development. Remember, that we persevere to succeed.
KING: You are right. But don't you think it will be good for us journalists to avoid meddling with politics. SUBJECT: That's true, but do you think it is easy with the present political culture we have in this country. KING: That question is for all of us to answer.
However, I think the president of SLAJ and his executive must step in to set moral standards.
I say this to you that, journalists, make few friends but a lot of enemies. That should be the thinking of a true journalist in this country.
Especially with corrupt people, who always think that you will expose their dubious activities today. Now let us face some of the difficult issues, journalists are facing.
(1) In countries that are war torn for example: Libya, Israel and Palestine, Syria, let me say countries in the Middle East; reporters are losing their lives every now and then.
(2) In countries like ours where there is political tension, journalist face intimidation. And with the peace that we all yearn for, I set out to see the reaction of other subjects in this country.
Therefore, to prove whether the attitude of people have started to change for the better, I then concluded that the process of change is necessary; and we need tough approach to fight the problems after the ten year war.
President Ernest Koroma's boldness in his approaches towards the engagement of peace concluded that things are moving toward a genuine direction.
But again, before compromising with tensions amongst aspirants and their supporters in the country should be the first thing to address in the agenda for change.
In those outlining areas, where the vast majority of the electorate, live needed education.
However, I must say this that, even in preceding ages, it is true that the "journalist" will still continue to face problems with the politicians, because the answer is clear that satisfied the general public, but did not satisfy some of the most advanced thinkers. What is understood by advanced thinkers of the present age has to become the possession of the general public of the future ages.
SUBJECT: I know you have more to say, but because of time and space, I must go now! But as usual, give me some wise words of yours before I go. KING: Take this for your own benefit.
"Best of friends always disagree to agree:" But enemies will become friends if there is compromise between them."
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Professor Peep! 
