From: King Amoah-K?si.
The Chief of Ohwim in the Ashanti Region, Nana Kusi Baye II has appealed the National Media Commission [NMC] and the Ghana Journalist Association [GJA] to ensure that journalists in the country abide by the ethics of the profession and refrain from sensational and unsubstantiated reportage that has the tendency of setting the country apart.
Nana Baye who gave the warning in an interview with The Moment condemned the recent trend where according to him, some media practitioners have allowed themselves and their media houses to be used by some unscrupulous individuals, particularly politicians to propagate falsehood about their perceived political opponents just to achieve their parochial interest.
According to the Chief, journalism, with its responsibility to inform, educate and entertain the masses is a noble and well respected profession that must not be toyed with, and therefore expressed regret how some people in the country who claim to be media practitioners have thrown the ethics of the noble institution to the dogs just to gain favour in the sight of some people.
He has therefore called on the Ghana Journalist Association [GJA] and the National Media Commission [NMC] not to hesitate to sanction any media practitioner and media house that flouts the regulations and objectives of journalism to save the image of the profession.
The Chief cited instances in other countries where journalist have used the stroke of their pen or the radio and television as platform to incite the people against themselves and thousands of people have lost their live because of irresponsible reportage by those journalist.
Though he commended the GIA and the NMC by ensuring that the media in the country does not do anything that has the tendency of setting of the country among themselves, he however expressed fear that if more is not done to check and call some media practitioners in the country to order, the unexpected is bound to happen because of the current trend of journalism practice in the country.
He lamented that though it is not always suitable for journalist to check and cross their stories before they come out with it because of the competition for scoops, he however advised that at least some basic check should be done to ascertain the authenticity of the facts of the story before it is published so as not to tarnished the hard-won reputation of others.
He said when this happen, it will help save media practitioners and their media houses from the problem of being dragged to court by some people for defamation.
Nana Baye further stated that in this era of civilization, false publication is unacceptable in every society and therefore people will not allow those who engage in it to go scot free.
He blamed the trend on the scrambling for wealth by publishers of newspapers and chief executives of radio and TV stations who he said see nothing wrong with such publications because they want their media houses to gain popularity so as to make more money.
He cautioned that cheap popularity goes with a price and warn such owners of media houses to be prepared to pay the price.
He also condemned the sudden power adopted by some media practitioners and their media houses because of their recognition as the fourth estate of the realm and the system of democracy and the free speech associated with it.
He warned that democracy does not give any person or group of people any special rights to insult, abuse the rights or tarnish the reputation of others and therefore advised media practitioners to guard against this practice.
