Watchdog — Not Watched Dog
Being a “watchdog” means one must have to act as an overseer and protector (against) or be a guardian against an undesirable activity. Whereas, a watched dog would be overseen and under the custody of a higher authority.
The role of the media to be a watchdog and monitor a government’s actions, or the wrongdoings of the private sector has been repeatedly defined to be one of the fundamental components of a democratic society. Hence, it is expected that journalists play a superior authority, not one under the custody of another —making them the watched dog.
WHAT IS WATCHDOG JOURNALISM?
According to Wikipedia, Watchdog Journalism is a form of investigative journalism where journalists, authors or publishers of a publication fact-check and interview political and public figures to increase accountability.
The media's duty as the fourth estate of the realm is to gather information regarding corruption, injustices, malpractices, and every other act deemed unfair and unlawful in both political and corporate circles and report it accurately to the public.
Hence, it is expected that the media plays that watchdog role by feeding the people with every vital information, forming public opinion and equipping them to hold the government and public figures accountable.
Acting as a watchdog requires ample independence on the side of journalism, and such professional autonomy means journalists must always exercise their ability to readily deliver a just report at every given time despite constant pressure or threats they might face from the corrupt elite.
THE WATCHDOG BECOMING THE WATCHED DOG
Silvio Waisbord, a Professor of Media and Public Affairs at the George Washington University once said, “Watchdogs do not bite their owners, nor do they chomp neighbours with whom they have amicable relationships”. But should the watchdog have owners?
Because journalists should be overseers, being overseen means a clampdown on their professional autonomy and independence which would, in turn, lead to an inability to give accurate reports (or doctored reports) to the public.
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Many a time, a clampdown on the freedom of the press (even in a country like Nigeria) might result from the government legitimizing the use of pressure, thereby forcibly taking away the responsibility of objectivity in reportage, away from the journalist.
This, only makes them report information favourable to the corrupt elite, to avoid living in exile, or reporting accurate information with an anonymous identity, or worse, refusing to report vital information that could make the people hold government and public figures accountable — a distinct role from what the public expects of the watchdog.