One-sided story is irresponsible journalism – Affail Monney to media practitioners

Affail Monney, the immediate past President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), has called on journalists, bloggers, and influencers to uphold media ethics, emphasizing the importance of balanced, fair, and accurate reporting.

Speaking at a two-day fact-checking training organized by DUBAWA in partnership with the Federal Republic of Germany, he criticized one-sided stories, describing them as irresponsible journalism that undermines democracy.

“The media must ensure fairness, reliability, and timeliness in their reporting, avoiding personal biases and partisan influences.

“This is crucial for safeguarding Ghana’s democracy and promoting transparency during the electoral process. You have to be balanced in all your reporting.

“One-sided story is irresponsible journalism,” Monney stated.

The workshop, held in Accra on November 11 and 12, 2024, focused on Elections Information Literacy and Fact-Checking, equipping participants with skills to authenticate and verify information before, during, and after elections.

Attendees, including journalists, bloggers, and social media influencers, explored advanced digital tools such as Google’s Fact-Check Explorer, reverse image search, video verification techniques, and DUBAWA’s chatbot for real-time verification.

Roselena Ahiable, Project Manager at DUBAWA West Africa, noted the importance of countering misinformation, which continues to threaten electoral integrity.

“This training aims to bridge the knowledge gap and empower participants to provide the public with accurate and reliable news,” she said.

Dr. Aurelia Ayisi of the University of Ghana’s Department of Communications highlighted the growing influence of digital media in shaping public opinion.

She called for collaboration between traditional journalists and digital content creators to prioritize accuracy over speed, especially as Ghana prepares for its December 7 elections.

AM/BB