Saturday, January 24, 2009

Responsible journalism ignored?

I would like to commend the media, especially the electronic media, for the manner in which they carried their professional duties to the people of Ghana during the just-ended elections.

However, inasmuch as they did their best, responsible journalism was sometimes pushed under the carpet. Some journalists ignored the ABC of this noble profession, which states that journa1ists must be Accurate, Balanced and Credible.

At times, the journalistic principle of accuracy was omitted. One would notice that as eye witnesses from various areas in the national called into our stations with reports of alleged electoral violence and malpractices, some did not bother to cross-check such reports to ascertain their veracity before airing them.

There were also hardly elements of balance in the reportage of most radio stations regarding the election results and other unfolding events. Most media houses reported one-sided stories.

Consequently, it made way for the lack of credibility in some of the news items carried.

But despite the excesses, I would like to commend Joy FM and CITI FM for standing out in their reportage during the electioneering period.

I will however, urge the media to take into consideration these journalistic principles when reporting news, especially during such momentous times as, elections. Such acts of omission and commission could inflame passions and plunge the nation into mayhem.

Again, I will urge journalists not to entrust their faith in others in order not to allow themselves to be oppressed, especially by politicians.

They should know that politicians always have their own agenda.

We must all be grateful to the Almighty God for having his hand in the affairs of our beloved country Ghana.

Writer: Scholastic Nettey, Ghana Institute of Journalism

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