Judul : Why NBS Left Empty Seats on Its Debate Stage
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Why NBS Left Empty Seats on Its Debate Stage
NBS Television faced a surge of online backlash after choosing to leave party-themed seats vacant on its debate stage when NUP's David Lewis Rubongoya and NRM's Minsa Kabanda did not appear.
This occurred during Wednesday's debate among parliamentary candidates in Kampala Central.
Backers of NUP, specifically, criticized the station for favoritism, orchestrating appearances, and "imposing" a discussion on parties that had decided not to participate.
However, the use of empty chairs in political discussions is not something unique to Uganda, nor is it an aggressive action. It is a traditional editorial technique employed by broadcasters globally to inform audiences that candidates were invited, anticipated, and decided not to attend.
In this instance, NBS's decision aligns fully with global standards and fulfills a democratic function that is frequently overlooked amid intense political responses.
A notable instance originates from the United Kingdom. In November 2019, Channel 4 organized a leaders' debate focused on climate change during the midst of the general election campaign.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson was absent, as was Nigel Farage. Since the debate was exclusively for party leaders, Channel 4 refused entry to senior Conservative Michael Gove, who tried to take part in Johnson's stead.
Instead of simply overlooking the prime minister's absence, Channel 4 positioned a melting block of ice at the podium labeled with the Conservative Party's name. They repeated this action for the Brexit Party as well.
The symbolism was direct yet impactful: the leaders had received invitations, the platform had been set for them, but they were absent.
The Conservative party filed a strong protest with the media regulatory body, Ofcom, alleging that the broadcaster showed favoritism. Ofcom dismissed the complaint and determined that Channel 4 remained within the bounds of acceptable editorial standards.
The ice carvings, the regulator determined, were an acceptable method to signify a void without mocking the leaders who were missing.
That British case illustrates why "empty-chairing" continues to exist in different democracies. It is not intended to humiliate a candidate, although in today's media environment, it inevitably carries political consequences.
It is carried out for openness. When a seat remains vacant, the audience or voter immediately understands that an individual significant to the competition was anticipated but failed to arrive.
If the broadcaster just took out the seat and acted as if the race only included those who were there, the viewers would not be aware of who turned down the invitation.
In a political environment where claims of partiality are frequent, stepping down from the position serves as a type of responsibility. It demonstrates that the media outlet fulfilled its role in including all perspectives.
However, empty-chairing goes beyond merely showing absence. It operates on various editorial levels. One aspect is visual communication: an empty, branded seat subtly yet strongly indicates that the discussion is incomplete.
It establishes the viewer's comprehension that the competition includes additional participants beyond those currently visible.
Another factor is political pressure. Broadcasters are aware that parties are concerned about the image of not showing up. By keeping the seat empty, the station isn't penalizing anyone; it's merely allowing the audience to form their own opinions. This alone can encourage candidates to approach future debates with greater seriousness.
Another issue involves defending against allegations of bias. If NBS had removed the seats, critics would likely have claimed it was marginalizing NRM or NUP by eliminating them from the visual representation.
Maintaining the chairs in their position is the more prudent editorial decision. It demonstrates that the broadcaster extended invitations to all, set aside areas for everyone, and took no actions that would have excluded those who decided not to attend.
This openness safeguards the broadcaster against future claims that it only gave a platform to specific voices while secretly suppressing others.
Beyond that, there is the larger idea of visual framing. Discussions are not solely about spoken language—viewers understand the stage setup, the arrangement, and the symbols used. An empty chair suggests that the missing individuals still hold significance in the dialogue.
It stops the discussion from tricking viewers into believing the subject is narrower or less complex than it truly is. It makes the audience remember that democracy encompasses more than just the people featured on a particular evening.
That notice is particularly significant in situations where specific individuals or contenders might avoid debates, believing they gain an advantage by preventing rivals from having a common stage.
The practice of leaving an empty chair dates back to before the current social media era. From the United States to Argentina and Chile, broadcasters have occasionally kept seats, podiums, or labels available for candidates who are not present.
It is particularly frequent when leading candidates or current officeholders choose not to participate in debates, as they perceive minimal political benefit in attending. The vacant seat then serves as a subtle yet impactful symbol for the public, highlighting that the democratic landscape extends beyond the individuals appearing on television.
This is the background against which NBS's choice must be interpreted. By maintaining the NUP and NRM seats in the spotlight, the station made it evident that these parties were involved in the process and had been granted a chance to take part.
It also enabled audiences to realize that the candidates appearing were not the sole individuals vying for the position being discussed. In an electoral setting where appearance holds equal importance to actual content, this visual indication helps prevent the debate from deceiving viewers into believing there are fewer candidates in the race than there actually are.
The choice also subtly highlights that the parties who are not present are accountable for their own presence; the media outlet shouldn't be required to conceal their absence.
The feedback from NUP advocates, although expected, ignores this fundamental aspect. A vacant seat is not pressure, nor is it an assault. It is a straightforward representation: the station extended an invitation, the setup was prepared for you, and you chose not to attend.
That statement would have held equal truth if NRM backers were the ones complaining. Should NBS have taken away the chairs, those same supporters could have claimed the station was erasing their party from the show.
The media outlet, in this instance, selected the choice that most clearly represents the truth. It is the option that holds up under examination, as it maintains the proof of the invitation and keeps the documentation accessible to all observers.
Regardless of whether someone supports the approach or not, the empty seats accomplished their intended purpose: they made it clear to observers who was expected to be present and who was absent.
In the realm of political communication, clear messaging is uncommon. At times, an empty seat can be the most straightforward message a broadcaster can convey.
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