The
desire to get something done should go beyound the mere fact of what one
stand to get out it but the neccesity of the need for the thing to be
done.I know many peolple may argue about the fact that what we do should
be as a result of the passion for it but the fact still remain with us
that many do and will continue to do what they do due to its economic
benefit and many of those in the practice of journalism are not left
out.
It
is important for us to note that journalism is one of the worlds oldest
professions and it is based on this knowledge that everyone can pick a
pen and paper and write anything and some speak into a microphone
without due recourse to the law however since society does not exist in
isolation,there is the need for ethics and principles to guide what we
do but not to curb what the journalist does.Many
of them just like their counter parts in other professions such as law,
medicine, engineering, teaching and so on have mouths to feed hence the
aggravating necessity to seriously take into consideration how they
feed those mouths.Most
of them spend four good years in school studying one course or the
other, some two years that is when you are fortunate enough to pass
through the nations biggest journalism training university that is Ghana
Institute of Journalism (GIJ) or better still few with elementary level
certificates but don't forget some have even gone to do their masters
with renowned universities such as Cardiff and Leeds in the UK but the
story is still the same. While
many live on what is termed as "SOLI" or solidarity, others live
solely on a minimum of 100 gh cedis to a maximum of 400 gh cedis i know
that does not deserve the word maximum but that is what they call it. I
know some may say it is not bad at all but i may disagree not because i
belong to such a noble profession but because the fact is that for any
action there should be an equal and opposite reaction.Nobody is saying
or trying to insinuate that journalists should be treated like semi gods
but like normal and genuine citizens who strive to make genuine
earnings through their service to the nation. No
matter our individual perceptions about some journalist and how they
carry out their duties,we ca not reconcile it with the fact that there
is a an iota of dot in every perfectionist.
The
important of the media in every mechanical or organic society cannot be
over emphasized and many have written to espoused their views on it and
i do not want to pretend to be pouring water on a stone.The definition
of democratic society can not be done well or better without the tip of
the pen or the head of the microphone.Some
of us finds it very difficult to believe if indeed it is true that the
media is the fourth estate or it is just a deliberate academic blunder
calculated to throw dust into the eyes of the very serious studious and
observers of political science.There is absolutely little or no effort
by us as a country to deal with one critical arm of the state and hard i
know they say always come at last. My
people used to say that when your neighbors house is on fire it is just
appropriate you get water by your side.We are exposed to how through
the actions and in actions of the media a once united society like
Rwanda became a divided one who has to endure a civil war for some
time.One does not hope for that in this country but deliberately
ignoring simple and little things like how the journalist survives can
lead to irresponsible media and you don't need a soothsayer to tell you
what that can lead to.The
importance of the recent call by the Ghana Journalists Association to
get a bargaining certificate for its members can not be ignored since
that move at least would pomp some sense of serenity into the profession
and it will go along way to portray a picture of decency to those who
wish to join this noble profession but do not trust its economic
prowess.
NATHANIEL MENSAH NIIEQUAYE@YAHOO.CO.UK/WWW.NATMENSAH.BLOGSPOT.COM
THE AUTHOR IS THE S.R.C VICE PRESIDENT OF GHANA INSTITUTE OF JOURNALISM
