By Kamal Ahmed
Somanya (E/R), Sept. 17, GNA – The Private Newspapers and Online News Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG) has hosted a workshop for journalists and media outlets at Somanya in the Eastern Region to promote ethical journalism and enhance quality news reporting.
The workshop accommodated both reporters and editors, emphasising accuracy and fair reporting, to equip participants with skills and knowledge to produce high-quality news stories that adhere to the highest professional standards.
Twenty journalists and editors from private media outlets, including the Daily Guide, Chronicle, ModernGhana, GhanaWeb, Crusading Guide, and The Herald, participated in the two-day workshop focused on maintaining the integrity and accuracy of news reporting.
At the opening session Ms Fatimatu Abubakar, the Minister of Information, stressed the importance of fair and unbiased coverage, advising journalists to avoid partiality when reporting on candidates or politicians.
She urged journalists to prioritise fact-checking and uphold professionalism to maintain high journalistic standards and combat the growing spread of misinformation within the media landscape.
In an age of rapidly advancing technology and widespread information dissemination, the Ghanaian media faces a critical need for accurate and trustworthy journalism.
Ms Abubakar called on journalists to remain true to the values of journalism by taking a proactive approach to fact-checking, thereby preserving the integrity of the information landscape and maintaining public trust.
The programme, designed for PRINPAG members in anticipation of Election 2024., aimed to improve the fact-checking skills of journalists.
It was on the theme: “Empowering Journalists for Credible Elections: Enhancing Reporting and Fact-Checking Skills”.
“We are politicians, and when we don’t get it right, we trust that you will do the fact-checking and get us in line and guide the nation based on truth and professional standards,” the Minister said.
She stated that there had been collaborated efforts to support journalists, so that the public could recognise the difference between a journalist’s work and that of content creators or bloggers.
Mr Andrew Edwin Arthur, the President of PRINPAG, said the programme was vital for participants to broaden their horizons while contributing to national progress.
“It is unfortunate that the powerful role that traditional media played is steadily being lost to alternative media and other means of communication, owing to media fragmentation, greed among media practitioners, unnecessary politicisation of the media, prejudice, and among others,” he said.
The development had harmed the country’s media as the fourth estate, resulting in decreased patronage, particularly among private publications.
Evidence showed that people in positions of authority, as well as individuals, were increasingly discouraged from sharing important information through the media for fear that such sensitive information may be manipulated or distorted by certain segments of the media landscape, he noted.
Mr Arthur attributed this largely to the unnecessary politicisation of the Ghanaian media and a lack of respect for professional ethics.
“This trend, along with others, must be reversed for the media to reclaim its esteemed position in national affairs,” he said.
He emphasized the current leadership of PRINPAG’s commitment to implementing measures to transition members from their current practices to those that instilled confidence in stakeholders.
“One of these efforts is the motivation behind this workshop: to equip participants with the necessary knowledge and skills to report professionally on the upcoming general election.”
He noted that since media professionals played a key role in maintaining peace, they must prioritise professionalism and ethic and refrain from allowing politicians to use them as conduits for disinformation, hate speech, violence, or chaos, which could have negative impact on the nation’s ability to maintain peace.
GNA