by Masimba Mukichi

Created on: June 24, 2008

The media is seen in the highest esteem as the eyes, ears and the mouth of the voiceless.It is there to inform, entertain, verify and to investigate facts.My angle of departure is that, yes it is the media's responsiblity to go beyond what's happening today inorder to predict future conflicts.

The topical issue in the world today is the oil price hikes.I would want to use this precious liquid as my springboard of argument.It is through the media that we come to know that the barrel of oil is now pegged at US $140.00.The media is the eyes and the ears of the public. The media is always part of the solution in trying to find ways of alluviating the oil problem. Why do I have to say this?

Whenever the OPEC leaders convene a meeting say in Saudi Arabia, it is a must that the media would be there to cover the deliberations.The media would act as the umblical code between the super delegates in Saudi Arabia meeting and the outside world.The solutions and the future action plans discussed in such a meeting are brought to the attention of the world by the media.Hence it is the media's responsibity to go beyond what's happening today inorder to predict the future.

If the media is not included to cover these oil price hikes discussions there is no way we can predict the future oil conflicts and problems.There is no way the world can be informed on the way forward in increasing the future production of oil and finding other alternatives of oil.By calling for the coverage of a United nation security meeting by the media one is calling for their contribution in predicting future conflicts.This can be evidenced by the question and answer sessions with journalists, which usually accompany meetings of this magnitude.

The media in these question and sessions,say with the secretary general are seen to be asking very sensitive and intelligent questions which are seen to be predicting future conflicts and solutions. A case in point can be a journalist may ask this question at a press conference,What is the United nations going to do to prevent further blood shed in Afghanistan and Somalia?by so doing the media would be predicting future conflicts hence it is the media's responsiblity to go beyond what is happening today inorder to predict future conflicts.

To put this issue to rest may I conclude by saying the media is expected to go beyond what is happening today inorder to predict future conflicts. "Fore-warned is fore-armed." The media must play a major role in predicting conflicts today,yesterday and tomorrow.The media remains a viable source of information and viable tool on checks and balances of the society.

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