By Naa Shormei Odonkor/Muyid Deen Suleman
Kumasi, Nov. 23, GNA – Journalists of the country’s only Wire Service, the Ghana News Agency (GNA), have been advised to be professional and not allow emotions to influence their work during the coverage of the December 7 general election.
Mr Samuel Osei Frempong, the News Editor of GNA, said, it was important for the journalists of the country’s major news outlet, to prepare themselves emotionally, physically, and mentally to be professional in the discharge of their duties on the election’s day.
They should also endeavour to present a well-rounded view of diverse perspectives to offer a comprehensive insights into the electoral process.
He was speaking at an election coverage training workshop organised by the GNA to equip its journalists, stringers, and volunteers, with the required skills and attitudes needed to report timely and accurately on the 2024 general elections, which is crucial in the country’s political history.
Mr Frempong said elections helped to select a legitimate person or persons as leaders, and in Ghana, elections were governed by the Constitutional Instrument (CI) which journalists must be abreast with.
The Constitutional Instrument, he said, was an instrument created under the power granted by the Constitution to outline the features and processes of the electoral system.
Journalists needed to be abreast of the rules and regulations governing the elections to discharge their duties in accordance with the law.
Mr Frempong urged journalists to be ethical by upholding confidential information, be polite in asking questions and not force anyone to give an answer to a question.
“Do not be persistent in interviewing aspiring candidates who did not win the election when his or her followers are around.
This is to protect journalists from being assaulted or abused by party faithful.
He said “journalists must live to tell the story”at all times.
On the general election day, Mr Frempong urged journalists to also focus on soft stories such as ongoing economic activities, pregnant women, disable persons going to vote and other events around polling centres, which might be colorful for news stories.
He urged journalists to get to the polling stations before the polling officers arrive to witness the set up and gather enough information for reporting.
GNA