BE GUIDED BY ETHICS OF JOURNALISM PROFESSION (PAGE 20, JAN 29, 2010)

THE Upper East Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Eric Amoh, has reiterated the need for media practitioners to acquaint themselves with the ethics of the profession and abide by them to safeguard the integrity of journalism.
Mr Amoh gave the advice at a media soiree the Upper East Regional Co-ordinating Council (RCC) organised in Bolgatanga to express appreciation for media practitioners for projecting the image of the region.
In attendance were the Regional Minister, Mr Mark Woyongo, his deputy, Mrs Lucy Awuni, and the Public Relations Officer of the RCC, Mr Medzida Khassim.
Mr Amoh bemoaned the situation where journalists blatantly ignored the rules and regulations and ethics governing the profession.
He said it was about time members of the GJA and media practitioners who were non-members of the association operating in the region, abided by the regulations on journalism to avoid problems.
Mr Woyongo commended the media practitioners for the co-operation and support he had enjoyed from them since assuming office, in spite of the numerous challenges facing them.
The challenges include lack of means of transport and basic modern communication equipment such as fax machines and Internet connectivity to facilitate the work of journalists.
Mr Woyongo said while exerting all efforts to facilitate the smooth operations of the media practitioners, the RCC would also continue to lobby management of the various media organisations to resource their outfits in the region.
He reminded the media practitioners of the golden jubilee celebration of the creation of the region and the enormous benefits that would accrue to the region.
The regional minister stressed the need for the media practitioners to positively advertise the region to enable stakeholders such as the government, bilateral and multilateral donors, as well as investors both local and foreign, to take interest in the region’s development.
“You must remember that the region is a deprived one so you should use your pens more positively to better the lot of our people,” Mr Woyongo said.
The regional minister, who himself is a journalist, advised media practitioners to cover activities of Bawku with circumspection.
He said while conceding that the Bawku conflict was a good source of news to the media which helped to sell newspapers and encouraged people to listen to radio stations and watch TV channels, reportage in the conflict area should not be done at the expense of the welfare of the people.