Cape Coast, Nov.22, – A Senior
lecturer at the Department of Communication Studies, University of Cape Coast
(UCC), has said the packaging of media products in the local language has
encouraged unprofessional practices among journalists and thus has become a
smirch on the profession.
Dr Eric Opoku-Mensah described as
"distasteful" the derogatory and unsolicited humour in most Akan news
contents and their subsequent embellishment of facts which had contributed to
inappropriate language on radio and television.
This, he said had blurred the
facts and made it difficult for discerning listeners to distinguish between
what was factual and fiction.
Dr Opoku-Mensah said this when he
spoke on the theme “Maintaining professional standards in journalism, the role
of the journalist”, at a ceremony to commemorate the one year anniversary of
the UCC Campus Broadcasting Services on Tuesday.
He maintained that the
development of media products in the Akan language was one of the best things
to have happened to the media landscape in Ghana, but its packaging and
delivery of news counted against professionalism and ethical principles which
must be discouraged.
“News is not a comedy show and
thus its products should not be overly reduced to that. Radio presenters and
newscasters should desist from the unnecessary humour and polishing of facts as
it counts against their professionalism".
“The personality assassination,
name calling and general abusive nature of some journalist on the airwaves must
be halted,” he stated.
Dr Opoku-Mensah reminded
journalists that the concept of freedom of speech or their access to the
microphone did not give them the liberty to be irresponsible in their speech
and actions.
He admonished journalists to
uphold the tenets of their profession in order to justify their status as the
fourth estate and its role of promoting peace and stability.
“Without professionalism,
journalists lose their claim on the rights to be watchdogs on the government
and society. Nothing will be more ridiculous than a porous media acting as a
check on a putrid government,” he added.
Dr Opoku-Mensah said it behoved
on journalists to behave responsibly as their job determined the livelihood and
future of the country because many people make vital decisions on the
projections and contents of the media.
He further urged Ghanaian
journalists to live above reproach, adding that “if our democracy is to gain
further meaning, survive and shape our development positively, then journalism
cannot be business as usual”.
The Pro Vice Chancellor of UCC,
Professor George K. T. Oduro who presided, said journalists must publicly stay
away from politics as their affiliations tended to influence their judgment on
being fair and thus might bring their professionalism into doubts.
He called on journalists to help
build a national character devoid of politics and inculcate the spirit of
patriotism, volunteerism and help shape the attitude of Ghanaians especially
when it came to time management to bring back the Ghanaian identity.
GNA
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