MEDIA CAN BE LETHAL (SEPTEMBER 4, 2009)

THE debate over social responsibility in the media has become relevant today given the claim that journalists are partly to blame for the spectre of a polarised nation.
Leading members of the Catholic and Presbyterian churches in Ghana have taken politicians and the media to task for the polarisation when they spoke on behalf of millions of Ghanaians who do not have the opportunity to speak publicly.
Indeed, recent events have made many people to question whether some media practitioners do not have any better way of handling national issues than the hate speech and propaganda they force down the throat of their readers, listeners and viewers.
In fact, the venom that sometimes comes from the pens and microphones of journalists and commentators, makes society wonder whether the media can count on the public trust to behave responsibly.
Without advocating a return to the era of the “Culture of Silence”, as well as the restoration of the Seditious and Criminal Libel Laws, it is important for the inky fraternity to appreciate the power they wield so as to use it for the public good.
The DAILY GRAPHIC would always encourage the media to hold public office holders accountable for their actions but it is equally essential for media practitioners to recognise that although the media can be a tool for development, it can be a lethal weapon, if misapplied.
The actions and inaction of journalists sometimes create the impression of a conspiracy of silence within the media when it comes to upholding its own ethics.
Whatever the challenges, the media have done a lot to guide and guard our democracy to the present level, where it has won international acclaim.
The DAILY GRAPHIC calls on the media to take a cue from the harm a reckless statement on a radio station in Rwanda did by way of causing a genocide and make a vow to exercise media freedom with responsibility.
Let us not have any illusions that God loves us better than people in countries ravaged by war. We are on course because we are trying hard to play by the rules.
The barbaric incident at Agbogbloshie on Tuesday, August 25, 2009, when some Ghanaians took machetes, chased their own brothers and butchered three of them, should not be lost on us.
The determination on the part of journalists to build public confidence in their businesses will determine which media organisations survive and prosper and which ones fail in the current financial crunch.
The DAILY GRAPHIC is very much aware of the fact that good stories sell newspapers, draw viewers and win accolades but these are attained if the stories represent the truth and facts on the ground.
While we bemoan bad journalism, we should also celebrate the efforts of many good journalists who have used their skills to promote the well-being of the people.
The DAILY GRAPHIC appeals to the National Media Commission (NMC) and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) to play more proactive roles in encouraging journalists to spike stories that cannot stand up to the truth.
The NMC, as the regulator, should bite while the GJA should encourage its members to be more ethically conscious and responsible.