LIVE UPDATES: Graphic-STAR-Ghana round-table discussion on Media Ethics and Transparency in Frequency Allocation
Welcome to Graphic Online's live coverage of the Graphic-STAR-Ghana round-table discussion on Media Ethics and Transparency in Frequency Allocation. The programme, which is happening at Alisa Hotel in Accra, is already underway.
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On the high table are: Nana Eyoaba I, Queen Mother of Efutu and Krontithemaa of Oguaa Traditional Area (Chairperson); Dr Joyce Aryee, President, Salt & Light Ministry; Dr Doris Dartey, Board Chairperson of Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL); and Mr Yaw Boadu Ayeboafo, Director, Newspapers, GCGL.
Dr. Dartey, who is a facilitator for the discussion, says journalists with weak ethics, or non-existent ethics, will do things that they do not even realise is wrong.
She said those who work in the media have privileged access into the minds of the people, so they must have strong ethics.
As a example of weak ethics within the media, Dr Dartey spoke of journalists who received laptops from the Ministry of Information without questioning where it had come from. According to her, it turned out that the laptops were purchased by the Ministry with the Media Development Fund set aside by the government in the 2012 budget to build the capacity of journalists. She said if those journalists had asked questions, money meant for building capacity of journalists would not have been used to buy "cheap, low-cost,' unsellable' laptops.
Taking his turn on the podium, Mr Ayeboafo said journalists must not sell their conscience for money.
"As media people we must do our work so well that everybody will see that we know how to do our work," he said.
10:56am:
Dr. Joycee Aryee is now delivering the keynote address.
She says she does not understand the concept of 'soli' - monies paid to journalists by event organisers.
She says journalists rather should be paying members of the public for news, and not the reverse.
Dr Ayee: No media landscape thrives without guaranteed freedom, but we must realise that our freedom ends where others' begins."
She says media must seek the truth and report it. She says the media must act independently and must be accountable.
"Ethical behaviour is critical. You cannot be a human being without being a moral being."
She says if all journalists choose to be ethical individually, it will impact the profession a whole.
"Life gets much better when you don’t have to look over your shoulder wanting to know if someone will remind you of something you need that you don’t want to come out."
On frequency allocations, Dr Aryee says Ghana must have broadcast regulations which deal with allocation of frequencies as well as content.
She says the need for ethical behaviour is not peculiar to the media, but also to the National Communications Authority (NCA), which is mandated with allocating radio frequencies.
According to her, ethical behaviour is critical because, "You cannot be a human being without being a moral being".
She says transparency with respect to frequency allocation is so important because wrong things get done in secret.
She goes on to add that people who work in NCA must see themselves as part of the media fraternity and also adopt ethical behaviour.
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She recommends that going forward, the NCA should part of the National Media Commission (NMC).
12.30pm
A round-table discussion on 'Media Ethics' is now underway.
Participants are brainstorming as to how media ethics can be upheld.
Some recommendation that have emerged from the discussions include:
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1. Instituting a sanctions regime that will punish media practitioners who do not abide by the ethics of the profession.
2. GJA must ensure that its members do the right.
3. All practitioners must be members of the GJA.
4. NMC must be strengthened so that it can sanction offending media houses
5. Journalists must be paid well.