If there’s something the entire world should be looking to make peace with right now, it is the realisation that there is a relationship between the field of media and that of law that is held together by freedom of speech. When that realisation completely sets in, it could mark the turning point of most of the issues the world is currently bedeviled with.
Imagine the ease there would be in life when there is a provision for free speech, a chance for everyone to freely, without fear or favour, air their opinion in various aspects of life. This is more succinct, especially when it has to do with governance, particularly in a democratically run government. Suffice it to say that a democratically run government is only democratic if freedom of speech is not hindered, and until this can be said of every country of the world, particularly, Nigeria, then there is still a very long way to go.
The big deal about this is: how many people actually recognise this? How many realise the importance of free speech? It is one thing for an issue to be so glaring; it is another for it to actually be seen. This is where intellectual minds show their prowess. Two of such highly intellectual minds, who have had their tentacles spread and are deeply rooted in the world of media and law, saw the vacuum and decided to take steps in the right direction to fill it. Prof. MarkAnthony Nze and Kanayo O. Kanayo, Esq., MFR, decided that something had to be done about drawing the attention of people to the essence of freedom of speech or its lack thereof and how it affects every single thing; hence the birth of the book, Freedom and Censorship: The Media’s Tightrope.
Prof. MarkAnthony Nze, a literary giant maximising the media to spread the word that the world is largely not bothered about, has written an array of widely acclaimed works, notable for their importance in addressing various vices common among the ruling class across various countries of the world, ensuring that attention is drawn to the things that require the most attention in the world at the moment while applying his literary prowess in the matter. A few of the works he has written include ‘Beyond Chains,’ ‘Gang of Looters,’ ‘The Street Hustler,’ ‘The Street Boss,’, and The Political Boss,’ amongst others.
He is also a maestro when the fields of strategic management and leadership are mentioned. Stemming from his constant need to achieve perfection, he studied at the New York University School of Professional Studies, excelling in copy-editing. He went on to achieve an OTHM master’s qualification in health and social care management from the London College of Professional Studies. He also went on to secure the Qualifi Level 8 doctorate in strategic management and leadership (RQF) before obtaining the British Qualifi master’s in international business law with merit.
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He did not stop there in his quest for knowledge as he further obtained a Ph.D. in economics and management from the Apsley Business School in London before being appointed an associate professor while holding the position of a senior lecturer at the College of Management Science at Apsley Business School and eventually a professorship in strategic management and leadership at New York Learning Hub, where he currently holds the magic wand as the academic director.
It behooves one to put their imagination to use when considering the excellence that will be churned out when one such as Professor MarkAnthony Nze collaborates with a widely acclaimed personality in the media and entertainment industries as well as a well trained barrister in law, Kanayo O. Kanayo. More than just one of the founding fathers of Nollywood and having over 300 films to his name, with his entertainment career spanning over three decades, Kanayo O. Kanayo has become a force to reckon with in corporate communications, government communications, and law. To crown all of his achievements, he has been honoured with the esteemed Member of the Order of the Federal Republic (MFR) by the Nigerian government.
A look into his academic prowess shows a professional diploma in mass communication, a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, and a master’s in political science from the University of Lagos. He would go on to further acquire an LL.B. from the University of Abuja in his quest to be a legal luminary, and after successfully passing his bar exams at the Nigerian Law School, he was called to the Nigerian bar with all the rights and privileges of a barrister and solicitor.
With all of that said, imagine what a collaboration between these two heavyweights will amount to when they come together to create a piece of excellence. In fact, that is putting it lightly. ‘Freedom and Censorship: The Media’s Tightrope’ is a book written with the intention of throwing light on the possibilities that are the media world and Law and how they can be intertwined to fill a major vacuum in world stability that is bothered by freedom of speech and the sinister shadow that censorship casts on it.
It exposes the strength or lack thereof of human rights, especially considering what most governments want people to see as a democracy when, in essence, there is a notable level of control over free speech.
Oblige yourself to the luxury of losing yourself in this deep dive into the world of the media, intertwined with the law and held together by the presence or absence of free speech. This piece will also expose you to the hidden trap of libel and defamation. It will ensure that you see and understand how free is too free in your choice of words, ensuring that you understand where to draw the line.
The book distinctly underscores the nuanced issue of censorship and its inadvertent impact on the principle of free speech. It essentially illuminates the paradox: if we’re persistently discouraged from discussing certain subjects, or using particular words, phrases, or references, doesn’t that challenge the very notion of freedom of speech? We’re often led to believe that we possess the liberty to express ourselves openly, yet within a framework of silent control. This unsettling revelation hints at a larger concern, the latent fear of the consequences of free speech, whether beneficial or detrimental. This remains a salient theme throughout the text, delicately navigating the fine line between control and freedom.
The book will draw us into the personalised world of public safety and uninhibited expression while trying to create a middle ground between the two.
With as much objectivity as possible and such a salient and sensitive topic as the point of focus, the book explains the ethics governing the media. It pinpoints the role of the media in various systems of government, especially democratic and autocratic governments. It throws more light on the dangerous use of propaganda as well as the use of information in warfare, while in the same time questioning the originality and transparency of the media.
If you are yet to completely understand the concept of hate speech; what it is and how to avoid it while holding on to freedom of speech, this is just the right book for you. You will be exposed to the role of investigative journalism and the murky waters that journalists have to wade through to get their jobs done.
This book is a rollercoaster of all things media, law, free speech or its lack thereof, and how they are all intertwined. Avail yourself of this piece of work and rid your mind of all assumptions pertaining to it. You have the world of media and law at your fingertips. Maximise it. The book can be ordered online via: https://amzn.eu/d/2DDdvdH
