RESPECTING THE CANONS OF JOURNALISM

THE constitutional guarantees of freedom and independence of the media have insulated the press against governmental and other sectarian interests. The onus now is on media practitioners to uphold media ethics as the core value of journalism practice in the country. A free media is an essential source of information for the people to make informed decisions in a democratic society. Instances abound where the irresponsible use of the power of the media has threatened the security of society.
Media reportage of the trial of the driver who rammed his car into the vehicle carrying the President has compelled sections of society to accuse journalists of indulging in “trial by media”. The media have been warned that their reportage will prejudice the trial of Mr Osei who allegedly ignored police siren and rammed his car into that of the President at the Silver Star/Opeibea House traffic intersection near the Kotoka International Airport last Wednesday. But one may ask whether all these stories being churned out about the presidential accident are motivated by the media’s determination to seek justice for the parties involved or they are trying to make increased sales.
It is for this reason that the appeal by the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) to journalists to refrain from engaging in the trial of Osei must be heeded by all.
The DAILY GRAPHIC is not oblivious of the fact that the wall of silence is increasingly difficult to maintain in the age of the Internet, which all interest groups, including politicians and even judges, cannot control in a democracy. Let journalists not take the caution by the GJA as an attempt to gag the media from reporting anything about Osei’s trial.
We concede that there is an overarching public interest in the accident involving the President’s car and the media have a responsibility to let the public know so that those who shirked their responsibilities and obligations will be punished to serve as a deterrent to others. Nonetheless, journalists must manage the challenge posed by the people’s right to know by upholding the principles of truthfulness, accuracy, impartiality, fairness and public accountability such that their practice will satisfy the principle of Tony Burman, the editor-in-chief of CBC News, that “every news organisation has only its credibility and reputation to rely on”.
The DAILY GRAPHIC adds its voice to calls on the media to exercise circumspection in their reportage of Osei’s trial to avoid the danger of obstructing justice for the accused person and thus defeat one of the cardinal principles in the justice system, which says that “a suspect is deemed innocent until proven otherwise by a competent court of law”.
Ghana has come a long way in promoting the freedom and independence of the media. Consequently, journalists should not give opportunity to any authority to take on the primary role of regulating the media. The freedoms enshrined in the Constitution are not absolute; they come with responsibilities.
From now on the guiding principle of all media practitioners should be respect for the canons or ethics of journalism such that the media will have the moral authority to provide a healthy check on all centres of power to achieve a free and enlightened society. It is only when journalists serve their society within the framework of the ethical standards that the media can discharge their duties to the public in a responsible and constructive manner.