The National Media Commission (NMC) Media Advisory Committee in the northern region has advised journalists and media practitioners to guard against the temptation of being judges in discharging their duties.
The committee has also made a passionate appeal to media houses to have a large heart to publish retractions any time they published stories that eventually turn out not to be factual.
Togbe George Debre, the northern regional chairman of the NMC media advisory committee, gave the advice during a meeting with journalists in Tamale on Wednesday.
The meeting, attended by members of persons living with disability and the Coalition of Muslim Organizations Ghana (COMOG), was to discuss possible ways of ensuring responsible reporting for peaceful general elections in the northern region.
Togbe Debre reminded media practitioners of their roles in educating, entertaining and informing but not to act as judges, adding that leadership should be left to judge journalists.
He was not happy that some media houses instead of publishing rejoinders, rather write against the rejoinder by taking the portions of the earlier report and contrasting them with the rejoinder.
Togbe Debre who is also the deputy registrar of the University for Development Studies (UDS) said that does not augur well for the journalism profession. The media, Togbe Debre said, is expected to play their watchdog role but who watches their operations. “You must be self-regulative,” adding that he expects practitioners to be responsible in the discharge of their duties,
Togbe Debre also revealed that exaggeration and sensationalism are some of the causes of confusion and urged journalists not to allow any political party to misuse them in promoting their interests.
A member of the committee, Hajia Nafisah Shaibu praised journalists in the region for their reporting so far but appealed for circumspection as the country goes to the December 7 polls.
