World Press Freedom Day

The 2014 World Press Freedom Borders put Ghana at the 22nd position out of 180 countries moving up five places. Indeed this is great news to the media in Ghana because the progress chalked up in the country regarding Press Freedom puts ahead of highly touted democratic countries such as the US and the UK.  

This should motivate practitioners to do all they can to justify the freedom they enjoy and for all other stakeholders including government to uphold and respect the right to freedom of expression as enshrined in chapters 5 and 12 of the 1992 constitution and under article 19 of the universal declaration of human rights. 

While acknowledging the freedom enjoyed by journalists in Ghana we must all pause to ask ourselves if with all these positives the media is acting responsibly in its role as the fourth estate of the realm. 

In recent times some media houses in their haste to be first to break the news all but goofed. Some did not do enough cross checking in their haste to put out information. Yes, speedy delivery of news is important but speed without accuracy is also counter-productive. More so is the practice where some media houses and practitioners put out information about individuals and institutions which are nothing but conjecture, half-truths and damaging rumours.  

It is glaring that some of our own in the journalism profession having been unethical in performance of their duties with complete disregard for the sensibilities of individuals and institutions be they in the realm of the state or in the private realm. 

Little wonder the GJA is worried about what its leadership says is the blatant disregard and for ethical values in sections of the media.  This trend the association contends feeds the perception of some critics who see the media as surplus in freedom with a deficit in responsibility.  

Those of us in the media will not be doing our democracy any good if the people become skeptical with information we put out or will not believe outright what we say because of the unethical behaviour of some recalcitrant practitioners. We could then be endangering the democracy we are to protect and champion.

Journalist must also do all they to unify this country with the kind of reportage that unites rather than the sort of skewed journalism that further polarize the country and could gradually drive us towards unforeseen calamities. 

Sensationalism and over politicisation of issues are dangerous and must be guarded against at all times because we do not as a country need huge doses of these to develop. What has happened to developmental journalism? What could propel our country towards progress. 

While we join journalists all over the world to mark World Press Freedom Day and to celebrate our successes as professionals, let us also remember practitioners who have lost their lives in the pursuit of their vocation. It is unfortunate that journalists should lose their lives in a bid to provide information to the people. This is unacceptable. 

Journalists could eliminate this trend if they remain true to the tenets of their profession and get the masses on their side always through ethical and people centred reportage. We must also guard against what some people are referring to as media terrorism and let the people know that we are on their side and will always be the voice of the voiceless. Journalism is a noble profession let us keep it so.

BY TEYE KITCHER