Partisan politicisation of journalism very dangerous – Kwesi Pratt Jnr warns

Managing editor of The Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr has cautioned journalists against projecting values and motives of political parties in their line of duty.

The impact of politics on media, he said, is still a highly contested issue as other journalists are willing to fight their colleagues who do not belong to the same political party.

He also observed that even though the media has focused on dangers facing journalists, comparatively little has been said and done about the politicisation of media in the country.

To this effect he asked that journalists should continue to stand on norms, such as objectivity and neutrality.

Speaking at a stakeholder’s conference on security organised by the GJA, Mr Pratt indicated that, political influence on media houses is highly problematic adding that journalists play an important role in promoting democracy.

He cautioned journalists in this regard to desist from affiliating themselves with political parties which in most cases take away the autonomy and independence of the media.

“The politicisation of journalism is a very serious issue. Amongst us we see ourselves as NDC or NPP journalists. It’s a dangerous development. So we have journalists who are ready to condone the harming of their colleagues because they do not belong to the same political tradition or think together” he stated.