JOURNALISTS' DAY OF HONOUR (OCTOBER 25)

TODAY marks the 13th awards ceremony of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and this evening, at the Banquet Hall of the State House, 10 distinguished men and women in the profession will step up for recognition in their various fields of endeavour.
Whichever way one looks at it, this is a moment of pride, a moment of self-esteem for all those whose efforts are being appreciated and rewarded for excellence in journalism.
The DAILY GRAPHIC, therefore, salutes all the award winners for their hard work and dedication which have put them head and shoulder above their colleagues in the year under review. We urge them to work harder in the years ahead to justify the honour conferred on them. For those who will not win any award, we encourage them to work hard.
The fact is that having climbed the ladder of success, it is obvious that the work of the award winners will, henceforth, come under greater scrutiny by society and so they owe it a duty to themselves, their various media houses and the association to be ambassadors of the profession wherever they find themselves.
We also find it fitting and proper to congratulate all the members of this year’s Awards Committee, headed by Mr Berifi Apenteng, a media consultant, on doing marvellous work, while we say a prayer for the soul of Mr Harry Mouzalas who, until his untimely death, was the secretary to the committee.
It is gratifying that the association has decided to confer a posthumous award on Mr Mouzalas tonight. Indeed, he paid his due to the GJA, having served as its General Secretary in its formative years. In more ways than one, we think this honour will be an inspiration to the present generation of journalists.
We also commend the executive of the association for the decision to honour some retired journalists and two former Ministers of Information for their various contributions to the growth and development of the profession.
The theme for this year’s awards is: ‘Using the media to promote national unity in an election year’, and we find it most appropriate. With only 43 days to this year’s presidential and parliamentary elections, which some have already tagged ‘do-or-die’, ‘final of finals’, ‘the decider’ and what have you, it is only proper to remind the media of the huge responsibility they shoulder in helping to preserve the peace of our dear country.
The fact that the Rwanda crisis was fuelled by ethnic sentiments expressed on radio speaks volumes of the power and authority of the media in matters of this nature, for which reason our men and women of the inky fraternity will have to exercise good judgement in deciding what to write and say as the D-day fast approaches.
The repeal of the Criminal Libel Law has certainly given journalists more space to exercise their freedom, but the media must not abuse it by practising gutter journalism. That will be the height of irresponsibility.
Press freedom is always exercised with responsibility, and in the run-up to the polls journalists can contribute to the peace and stability of the country by refusing to be carried away by the euphoria generated by the season.