President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) says journalism practice is at the crossroads because some journalists and media houses are performing below bar.
Affail Monney says such a conduct from media practitioners and private electronic media houses is unacceptable as Ghana heads to the polls.
He has been addressing journalists at a 3-day capacity building workshop on migration for investigative journalists organized by the Panos Institute West Africa and the Africa Center for International Law and Accountability in Accra.
According to him, though the 4-month imprisonment handed each to the Montie FM trio is still fresh in the minds of journalists, the airwaves continue to be mixed with best and below bar radio programs.
“Fast forwarding to 2016, today we are at the crossroads again. This time, majority of the challenges we faced are in the electronic media, particularly private radio.
“The event of last week which led to the sentencing of three panelists of Montie FM to 12-months imprisonment are too fresh in our minds. Although these individuals were not mainstream journalists as those of you here are, their actions positive or negative affected mainstream media.
“Before then and now, our airwaves continue to broadcast the best and regrettably, below bar program.”
The Ghana Journalists Association code of ethics guarantees the general public right to true information from journalists.
According to Mr. Monney, GJA Code of Ethics when followed by journalists will ensure journalists write accurate, fair and balance report.
Failure to follow the ethics will lead to the filling of inaccurate reports, unprofessional and unethical practice will lower public confidence in our work as journalists.
“Fellow journalists, we have come a long way. From 1992 to 200, we witnessed opportunities and challenges, especially the print media. At that time, the liberalization of the airwaves was not fully up to what we witness now. While there was progress in some areas of media practice, there was also retrogression in other areas.”
Mr. Affail Monney is asking media owners to take steps to address falling journalism standards including banning panelists who go contrary to ethics of the journalism.
In an election year, we cannot allow below bar practices to continue. Media owners must know that, first and foremost, they have a responsibility to provide training for those they employ to come on air.
“Secondly, they must also ensure those panelists are sufficiently briefed on acceptable standards of discourse. Anyone who violate these standards must either be taken off air and where warranted, be banned from participating in future discussion programs.”
