Take interest in investigative journalism – Kabral

Accra, Aug. 26, GNA – Mr Kabral Blay-Amihere, Chairman of the National Media Commission (NMC), has advised Ghanaian journalists to take interest in investigative journalism as a means of putting office holders on their toes.

He said the majority of journalists in the country were not going beyond scheduled assignments to thoroughly investigate stories before publishing them.

This, he noted, was defeating the watchdog role of the media as the Fourth Estate of the realm.

Mr Blay-Amihere gave the advice on Thursday at the close of a day’s sensitization workshop for journalists on investigative reporting.

The GJA organized the workshop as part of activities to usher in the 16th GJA Awards. It was sponsored by Accra Brewery, which is a major sponsor of the Awards.

Ms Janine Lazarus, a renowned South African investigative journalist, conducted the training with the aim of stimulating Ghanaian journalists to take interest in investigative journalism.

Mr Blay-Ahihere said apart from some journalists not moving a step further from scheduled assignments, some of the newspapers were practicing “cut and paste journalism”, explaining that they searched the internet and recycled stories from around the world.

“Some of the newspapers are not rich in content while the radio stations are practicing sound bite journalism,” he said, adding that though the Constitution enjoined the media to put public office holders on their toes, the media seemed to forget this role.

He said if journalists followed the “No money syndrome” they would not make any headway in shaping the society and advised media practitioners to sacrifice and ensure that they remained a powerful force to reckon with.

Ms Lazarus praised Ghanaian journalists for their in-depth knowledge of journalism and advised them to do more and venture into investigative journalism, which was an area that could make journalists heroes of the profession.

“The crop of journalists I have interacted with during the training convinces me that journalism in Ghana was above standard and I will continue to come and impart my knowledge in journalism to them if I am called to do so,” she said.

She advised the media to remain objective, balanced and fair to the society by ensuring that their reportage would unite the people instead of divide them.