It is George Orwell, real name Eric Arthur Blair, who underlined the fact that whenever he took his pen to write, there was an issue he was exercised about and wanted to share with the public. Orwell told it thus, "When I sit down to write, I do not say to myself that I am going to produce a work of art.
I write because there is some fact to which I want to draw attention and my initial concern is to get a hearing".
There are two issues I want to draw attention to.
The first is the skewed manner in which some of our media houses report on the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) awards.
The second is the focus of some of the applicants for military recruitment about how they would go through the exercise without any show of upset about the sad disaster which claimed the lives of five of their colleagues, all female.
Whilst the skewed reportage, anchored on the concept of proximity, is a privilege enjoyed by media houses exercised me because of the lack of comprehensive coverage, I was demoralised about the way most of the applicants interviewed strongly expressed a desire to see the exercise continued to enable them to know their fate.
In both situations there was selfishness making me muse about what had become of our claim to ethics and respect for mores and norms.
On Saturday November 8, 2025, the GJA organised the 29th of its award series in Kumasi, an innovation, to acknowledge, appreciate, recognise and honour members who distinguished themselves and brought glory to the profession last year.
Thankfully, the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II offered to host the media within the hallowed grounds of the Manhyia Palace. We were equally blessed with the gracious presence of the President, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, my Roommate whilst we were students of the Commonwealth Hall, University of Ghana, as well as the Chief Justice.
The Code of Ethics of the GJA enjoins our members to respect the right of our people to true information, a universal principle which embodies the values of truthfulness, accuracy, facts, balance, unbiased presentation of events and other valued ethical concerns.
Again, the National Media Commission has developed guidelines encouraging comprehensive and fair gathering of information complemented with objective and impartial presentation of such information.
Whilst communication theory espouses the media as gatekeepers, they are equally seen as agenda setters.
It is thus required that the media would play their gatekeeping roles in such a manner that they would indeed set the public agenda.
More important, in the face of the Uses and Gratification Theory in the midst of the diversity or pluralism of media outlets, the expectation is that the media houses, would all give maximum attention to an award scheme organised by the GJA, by the media, for the media and of the media as they do for all other professional and social groups when they honour, recognise and appreciate people for serving the public meaningfully or bringing glory to themselves.
As News Editor, Associate Editor, Editor and Director at the Graphic Communications Group Ltd (GCGL) from 1983 to 2018, except the period 1999-2003 when I served as Executive Secretary of the National Media Commission, I hold the belief that whilst there was the need to exploit the principle of proximity to highlight any recognition of a staff of the GCGL, or any media house, that should not dilute or undermine the greater picture of all those who win GJA awards, especially the Journalist of the Year.
But year after year, as I read, listen to or watch the story of the GJA awards, I have been deflated by some of the media houses who only project the recognition of their staff, depending on proximity, and sacrificing impact, relevance and significance, other worthy principles or concepts which define news.
My moans stem from the fact that apart from a few of the media houses, with Daily Graphic and GBC Radio standing out, a researcher may have to resort to multiple sources to reconstruct the story annually before they would get the full details of award winners at the GJA awards.
By all means, let us appreciate internal award winners but we should not forget the others, especially the overall winners such as Journalist of the Year and Female Journalist of the Year.
Theirs must not be tagged at the bottom or as an appendix to the story of our internal heroes but as the lead or independent stories.
We would not be happy if our staff member wins any of the coveted prizes but is subordinated to the story of internal winners, since the prizes are not equal.
Now, regarding the attitude of the applicants for military recruitment, at least those who had opportunity to speak to the nation because of the privilege of being interviewed on national networks, should have demonstrated a sense of emotion, empathy and sympathy to a nation and people in mourning.
Even if they did not personally witness the agonising and petrifying spectacle, they heard about it and should, before talking about themselves, have expressed their anguish and sympathy to their lost colleagues, since those deaths were totally avoidable and needless fatalities.
Where are we heading. We are becoming more selfish parochial recluses even as we claim to be selfless, hospitable and each other’s keepers.
We need to show empathy not only by word but in deed. We should not lose our sense of humanity and collective care.
After all, wonsom wonsom, yede nipa, which could be the English equivalent of “Many hands make light work.”
