Charged on journalists to stick to balance reportage

The repeal of the criminal libel law a couple of years ago by the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration really oils the ground for journalists in the country, giving them mandate to carry out their activities without any unnecessary interference from authorities.

However, some unscrupulous ones in the system have taken advantage of that there by attacking people’s hard fought reputation on baseless grounds creating panic and suspicion amongst the citizenry. A social commentator, Mr. Asiedu Kokuro made this known in an interaction with Classic news. The outspoken man who was not happy about how delicate issues concerning some key figures are being handled recently chastised the media that the repeal of the criminal libel does not give the inky fraternity prerogative to descend on personalities with the sole aim of satisfying their whims and caprices.

According to him, allegation made against any public official must be substantiated in order words be thoroughly investigated to the bottomless pit to know the actual truth. It would therefore sound odd for the consumers to be served with half baked stories that would intend bring chaos to a stable society. This is due to the fact that on numerous occasions the media failed to feed Ghanaians with developments concerning burning issues that were earlier raised, published in news papers or aired on radio stations.

Making his point from journalism point of view, Mr. Kokuro drew a distinct line between a hard news and soft one. It was established that looking at the seriousness and public interest attached to hard news it would do the public great good if journalists stick firmly to facts squabbling setting the platform for balance reportage which according to him has vanished in the thin air in nowadays with the Ghana accreditation board taking the bull by the horn and monitor the activities of pockets journalism institutions that have spread across the length and breath of Ghana. He said for the problem to be solved all unqualified journalists should be flashed out from the system.

Mr. Korko noted that the era of yellow journalism where people sit in the offices concoct hanging stories is past and gone and all must see it as such and join the campaign against bias reportage, adding that writing of rejoinders by media houses would never help affected parties to recapture their soiled reputations because image soiled is very intricate to repair, saying many innocent public officials had been forced to vacate their posts due to public ridicule and malicious stories written against them.

He reiterated that authorities’ partial dim sight is gradually bringing the ones viable and reliable media industry in Ghana to disrepute letting the masses to use all manner of words against it.

Mr. Kokro appealed to the National Media Commission (NMC) and Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) as well as all affiliated bodies to be proactive and do well to separate the wheat from the chaff before the situation gets out of hand completely.