Source::tolonradio.com
The Ghana Journalists Association Northern Region branch in collaboration with the Northern Regional Peace Council have organized a workshop on peaceful reportage for journalists and media personnel in the Northern Region.
The workshop was sponsored by Rural Empowerment Advocacy Project (REAP).
The essence of training is to equip journalists and reporters with the necessary guidelines and principles of journalism in order to promote peaceful election.
Journalists were taking through ethical reporting, fasts-checking, elections coverage and safety of journalists.
Welcoming participants to the workshop, the GJA Northern Regional Chairman Yakubu Abdul Majeed urged journalists to show professionalism in their line of duty during, before and after the December 7 election.
He said journalists have a critical role to play in the election by ensuring that they report accurately and practice responsible journalism.
Dr. Paul Achonga Kwade, a lecturer at the Tamale Technical University (TATu) urged journalists to as always cross check their facts before coming out with stories.
According to him, the main stream journalism is confronted with the era of fake news and thus journalists must ensure accuracy and fairness by cross-checking every piece of information they receive.
Dr Kwade who took participants through election coverage, ethical reporting and facts checking urged journalists to avoid hate speech, “avoid sensationalizing issues especially comments that tend to incite one group against the other or comments promote social, ethnic, religious political conflicts or violence. Bad news sells but kills too”.
He implored Journalists to focus on issues “Journalists must endeavor to focus their reportage on issues and not personalities”.
A veteran journalist and a lecturer at the University for Development Studies (UDS), Dr Illiasu Adam said, journalists must report to reduce tension and not to inflame tension.
He said, as protection from the multiple pressure arising during election, journalists should adhere to the basic ethical principles of the profession.
Dr Illiasu noted that, every journalilstic piece must be accurate, verified, balanced, neutral, and respect for the human dignity. “A journalist should always remember that he serves the interest of ordinary citizens”.
A member of the Northern Regional Peace Council, Mr Nuhu Abukari said the council is working with all stakeholders to ensure that Ghana remains peaceful after the December 7 general election, adding that, the role of the media cannot be overemphasized.
