Concern on poor media reportage on strike

Accra, June 19, GNA - The National Media Commission (NMC) on Monday expressed concern about media reportage on the recent strike action by health professionals, saying it failed to provide a context that revealed the strike's impact on society.

A statement signed by Mr Paul-Adu Gyamfi, Chairman of NMC, said the Commission was not happy that only a few journalists attempted to delve into the issue to question the real issues such as the number of people who lost their lives, how many time bound-medicines got spoilt, and the number of patients who got complications from otherwise curable ailments, as a result of the strike action.


According to the statement, the strike provided a test for media capacity to link their work to the daily struggles of the people to find solutions to their problems.


It said the Commission's concern flowed from commitment made by the media on May 3, 2006 during the World Press Freedom Day to commit themselves to help fight poverty and ills that afflict the vulnerable in society.

The statement recalled that during the devastating miners strike in Britain a decade ago, the media highlighted dangers on the British economy, through publications on the front pages of newspapers. It noted that with the ripples of labour unrest in the education sector, the media should develop interest in the underlying causes and possible impact on the economy in order to highlight possible solutions to forestall any disruptions.


"Ultimately, the media's contribution to development is enhanced when journalists strive to provide content that offers insight into events beyond their mere occurrence."


The statement advised the media to take future strikes more seriously and endeavour to help society understand the dynamics of labour, economics and politics in a growing democratic state.