THIS year’s World Press Freedom Day which was marked yesterday provided another opportunity for stakeholders in the media to renew their commitment to ensure the responsible use of the media to promote the country’s development.
At the core of this commitment is the recognition of the need to pass the Right to Information Bill to enhance the performance of the media, while ensuring that the people have access to requisite information to help them make informed choices and decisions.
The Minister of Information, Mr John Tia Akologo, at the flag-raising ceremony to mark the day, duly acknowledged that the Right to Information Law was critical to enhancing media professionalism and ethical journalism in the country.
The march towards a Right to Information Bill has been quite challenging, but it is heart-warming to note that the bill is presently before Parliament.
Indeed, the theme for this year’s celebration, “Freedom of Information; the Right to Know”, also emphasises the importance of freedom of information and goes to buttress the belief that a press cannot be said to be truly free if it has no access to relevant information.
There is no doubt that the journalism profession thrives on information and the cultivation of news sources in processes that are based on sound ethical principles. The resilience shown by journalists all over the world is ample evidence that with the appropriate support, the journalist can play a more meaningful role in national development.
The DAILY GRAPHIC believes that the need for a Right to Information Law is very pressing and the country cannot afford to wait any longer. In a developing country with a media that face some resource constraints, the absence of a Right to Information Law only goes to aggravate the woes of the media.
The day should also provide an opportunity for journalists to reflect on their contribution to national development over the years to enable them to come up with ways to improve their performance.
Indeed, the crave by journalists for information can only be justified if they responsibly use whatever information they are provided with. It is important for journalists to bear in mind that the right to information places a requirement on them to demonstrate higher ethical standards and professionalism.
For instance, the publishing of pornography by some players in the print media and the recourse to blackmail in the name of press freedom must be condemned.
Now that the Right to Information Bill has been placed before Parliament, it is hoped that all the stakeholders will continue to make inputs by way of public discourses, media publications, as well as personal interactions with MPs, to help in the debate on the bill.
We also hope that the day will provide an opportunity for the relevant authority and stakeholders to reflect on the need for a Broadcasting Law and work towards its promulgation. Presently, the airwaves are sometimes battered by utterly repulsive journalism that raises so many questions about journalistic standards.
In a message to mark the day, the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, welcomed the global trend towards new laws which recognised the universal right to publicly held information.
The UN Chief also noted that “requests for official information are often refused or delayed, sometimes for years. At times, poor information management is to blame. But, all too often, this happens because of a culture of secrecy and a lack of accountability”.
The DAILY GRAPHIC hopes the country will not suffer such a fate and that whatever resources are required will be marshalled to ensure that these laws make the desired impact.
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