[Opinion] The Press and the Fool

`Some press organizations are unnecessarily harsh on the government, driven by jealousy and ill intentions. We need to protect ourselves from such persecution.` (President Roh said on March 29)

`The press has been hurting the presidential leadership indiscreetly.` (Minister of Culture and Tourism Lee Chang-dong said on May 31)

`Political reform will remain only a vain effort unless the press stops seeking to become a center for power and controlling the world.’ (Myung Gye-nam, former head of President Roh’s fan club called `Roh Samo`)

These remarks truly reflect the way the President himself and his administration view the press and media news outlets. They never hesitate to see themselves as victims in the process and display visible hostility towards a select few press organizations. Their remarks hint that they will even attempt to confront their foes face to face.

Rep. Gang Sung-gu of the opposition Grand National Party alluded to the government’s view on the press to John Miller’s book `A Fool Always Blames Others.` Gang criticized the government for its press patrolling policy aimed at putting pressure on certain press organizations in the name of reform. As such, various groups have different and conflicting views on the issue. One side views the government as a victim of the press, although they are in power. Another finds such a view distasteful and irreprehensible.

They have failed to meet halfway and often lash out at each other. Without sharing any common ground, they continue to view the media arbitrarily in relation to their own selfish interests. The most important role of the press, Walter Reefman once noted, is to criticize major phenomena in society and continuously keep them in check. He stressed that the press must keep its critical attitude toward the role and functionality of the government. It is not desirable, therefore, that press organizations become friendly some time and hostile at other times depending on their relationship with a new government.

The leader of a country, in particular, must give equal consideration to each and every organization whether or not they are more or less critical of the government. By separating allies and enemies, the President himself fuels conflict within society. The distinction raises great concern, after all, the press is supposed to criticize the government.

Former president Kim Young-sam once said in a recent interview with foreign media that `President Roh was neither determined nor ready to become President.’ In his view, continually making mistakes due to lack of preparedness, key members of the government blame their own mistakes on the press. They must know, however, that this kind of attitude will only turn people off.

Baek Won-gi, Professor of Journalism at Sungkwunkwan Univ. baek99@chollian.net