Dear Pressman, Why Do You Write?
Almighty God,
Strengthen and direct, we pray, the will of all whose work it is to write what many read, and to speak where many listen.
May we be bold to confront evil and injustice: understanding and compassionate of human weakness; rejecting alike the half-truth which deceives, and the slanted word which corrupts.
May the power which is ours, for good or ill, always be used with honesty and courage, with respect and integrity, so that when all here has been written, said and done, we may, unashamed, meet Thee face to face. Amen
A prayer that captures the essence of Journalism. But here in the University of Ibadan (UI), student press organizations love to wave the banner of press freedom. They talk about truth, justice, and being the “voice of the voiceless.” But dig beneath the surface, and you’ll find something uglier, a culture of selective bravery. They speak when it’s safe, write when it’s trendy, and go quiet when real power enters the room. This is not just a minor flaw. It’s a betrayal.
Because when students are being silenced, intimidated, or abused by those in power, what we need is consistent, fearless journalism, not press organizations who hide behind formal language and “editorial diplomacy." What we need is truth, not publicity. Let’s talk about how the system really works.
The Convenient Boldness
Many press organization in UI are loud when it suits them. They’ll write hot takes on hostel issues, post fiery articles about power outages, and throw around buzzwords like “accountability” and “student interest.” But that’s surface-level reporting. It’s easy to criticize the school’s management from a safe distance or rant about the student leaders in vague, indirect statements.
But what happens when a lecturer verbally abuses a student? What happens when a student leader sexually harasses a fellow student? What happens when departmental associations silence complain? SILENCE!
These are the stories that die quietly. Not because no one knew, but because the press refused to carry them. And why? Because doing so would make the organization “uncomfortable.” It would threaten their image, their friendships, or their access to power, or even an invite from the Almighty SDC. That’s not press freedom. That’s "cowardice wearing a press tag.”
Friendship Over Integrity
Let’s call it what it is, some press man are more loyal to their friends than to the truth. They won’t write about injustice if the person behind it is someone they admire. They won’t expose corruption if it threatens a political camp they belong to. They hide behind “we’re still investigating,” or “we don’t want to escalate things,” when in reality, they’re protecting their personal ties.
This is why some students don’t even bother reporting cases to the press anymore. What’s the point, when some platforms will weigh your pain against their convenience? The result? Victims are silenced, the guilty are untouched, and the press loses its soul.
The Fear of Being Targeted
To be fair, there’s a real risk in being bold. Student journalists have faced backlash, subtle threats, blacklisting, even academic intimidation. The system in UI is not always friendly to dissent. So yes, the fear is real. But if your fear is greater than your mission, then maybe you shouldn’t hold the pen.
Journalism has never been a comfortable path. It’s not about being popular. It’s about holding people accountable, even when it costs you something.
So the question is: why take the oath if you’re not willing to stand by it?
The Rise of Branding over Truth
Another disease spreading into press culture is the obsession with aesthetics and personal branding. Many press organizations are more focused on satisfying their readers than the quality of their stories. Journalism is becoming performance, not substance. Writers want awards, not impact. Editors want applause, not reform. This obsession with looking relevant is killing the real work. The press is no longer FEARED. It’s LIKED. And maybe that’s the problem.
What Press Should Be
A press that’s worth its salt does the hard work. It investigates. It asks uncomfortable questions. It challenges power structures. It names names. It takes the side of the truth, even when it’s unpopular.True press doesn’t wait for permission to speak. It doesn’t fold under pressure. It listens to the silent, not just the loud. And when things go wrong, it doesn’t just comment, it EXPOSES. That’s the kind of journalism UI students deserve. Not one that hides behind “committee meetings” and “editorial guidelines,” but one that shows up with courage and consistency.
This is a wake up call to every pressman reading this, ask yourself: When was the last time you published a report that shook the system? When last did you investigate a story no one else would touch? When was the last time your words protected someone who had no one voice? If your answer is “it’s been a while,” then this article is for you. We don’t need more “media presence.” We need truth with backbone.
This is not an attack, it’s a challenge. The press organization in UI can be better. It can rise beyond safe stories and become a true force on campus again. But only if it drops the mask of selective bravery and embraces what journalism was always meant to be: a mirror to power, and a voice to the powerless.The pen is only mighty when it’s honest. So the question remains, Will you be a pressman that pleases, or a press man that protects? Just as the press prayer reminds us, May the power which is ours, for good or ill, always be used with honesty and courage, with respect and integrity, so that when all here has been written, said and done, we may, unashamed, meet Thee face to face.
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