By Solomon Gumah, GNA
Tamale, Aug 03, GNA – Mr Abdul Hayi Moomen, journalist and Director of Public Affairs at the University for Development Studies (UDS) has launched a book titled: Newsroom Poverty: The Silent Crisis in Ghanaian Journalism.
The 428-page book examines the financial hardships confronting many journalists in the country and argues that poor remuneration, lack of social protection and inadequate resources threaten the independence, professionalism and sustainability of the media.
The launch, held in Tamale, brought together staff and management of the UDS, representatives of civil society organisations, public institutions, media practitioners, students and members of the public.
Mr Moomen, speaking during the launch, described the book as “an act of love for journalism” rather than an attack on the profession, saying it sought to expose the difficult conditions under which many journalists worked and stimulate a national conversation on media welfare.
He said journalists played a vital role in informing society, exposing wrongdoing, defending vulnerable people and holding duty-bearers accountable yet many continued to endure financial hardship while being expected to uphold the highest ethical standards.
Recalling the popular saying that “our take-home pay could not take us home,” Mr Moomen said the expression reflected the painful reality of many journalists, whose salaries were quickly exhausted by transport, rent, food, school fees and other family responsibilities.
He said despite the challenges, journalists were still expected to dress professionally, travel extensively, resist inducements and carry out their duties with courage and objectivity stressing that society must also consider whether media practitioners were being provided with the conditions necessary to meet such expectations.
Mr Moomen also addressed the long-standing issue of “soli” cash given to journalists at events describing it as a symptom of a deeper systemic problem rather than the problem itself.
He said journalists should not have to depend on the individuals or organisations they covered to finance their transportation insisting that well-resourced media organisations should provide adequate logistics and fair remuneration to preserve the dignity and independence of journalists.
He said while journalists consistently amplified the concerns of teachers, nurses, workers and vulnerable communities, they rarely spoke publicly about their own challenges including poor salaries, lack of employment contracts, inadequate social security and unsafe working conditions.
He expressed hope that the book would encourage media owners to improve staff welfare, policymakers to recognise journalism as a public good, and professional bodies to advocate more strongly for better salaries, contracts, welfare and safety for journalists.
Mr Moomen said improving journalists’ welfare would strengthen ethical journalism explaining that fairly paid and adequately resourced journalists were better positioned to resist undue influence and produce quality work in the public interest.
Mr Alhassan Suhuyini, the Member of Parliament for Tamale North Constituency, commended the author for the timely publication describing the book as an important contribution to ongoing discussions on strengthening journalism and promoting decent working conditions within Ghana’s media industry.
He urged media stakeholders, policymakers and journalists to use the publication as a basis for constructive engagement towards reforms that would protect the integrity of the profession and improve the livelihoods of media practitioners.
GNA
Edited by Eric K Amoh/Benjamin Mensah
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