Media standards fallen – Fritz Baffour

Standards of professionalism in the media have fallen, Fritz Baffour, the National Democratic Congress’ Member of Parliament for Ablekuma South, has said.

According to him, although there is media explosion and people can access information from different angles and even in their local dialects, there is too much sensationalism and lack of adherence to standards.

“Sensationalism is the disadvantage of the media in local language. There is a certain lack of professionalism in the media now. The standards have fallen because we accept and take anything and it is because of the explosion of new media technologies,” he told DJ Premier on Entertainment Capital Saturday March 26, on Accra100.5fm

“Years back we had this thing we call a ‘yam’ phone…it was only for phoning. Now, you can take pictures with it, watch films and all that kind of thing, so, it is an explosion. And the thing is, if we had understood how big the media would become, we could have gone along with a tendered regulation to regulate the way it is, and to maintain certain standards. … Now, the horse has bolted and we are trying to shut the door.”

Asked if the National Communications Authority was to blame for the fallen standards in the media, Mr Baffour responded in the negative, saying they did not have powers to control the media.

“You cannot blame the National Communications Authority (NCA); you cannot blame the National Media Commission (NMC). NCA is more into the technologies with media and the NMC is for content; but in the formation of both institutions, we didn’t give them enough powers,” Mr Baffour said.

“I am a member of the NMC and we find out the laws that we have for regulating the media are not strong enough …so, you cannot penalise and you cannot give certain strictures, so, that is the problem.”

He noted that the NMC applies the laws, but cannot fine or punish violators.

“We apply the laws but you cannot go too far; all you can do is call and censor but you cannot impose certain fines and punitive measures for infractions.”

Mr Baffour, who is also a journalist, suggested the media concentrate on self-regulation. “The Broadcasters Association, the Ghana Journalists Association, if you are a member, you have got to be subject to certain regulations. It’s better than being enforced from outside,” he said.