The 2017 Ghana journalist of the year and host of the Citi Breakfast Show, Bernard Koku Avle has called on journalists in the country to exhibit high levels of professionalism in the course of their duties.
Speaking at the occasion of the 70th-anniversary celebration of the Ghana Journalists Association, Mr. Avle, journalists are the ‘heart and centre’ of the Ghanaian society thus it is expedient for them [Journalists] to commit to reporting the truth.
Quoting Bob Woodward, an American investigative journalist, Bernard Avle, who is also the host of Citi TV‘s news analysis program, The Point of View said that ‘journalism is a discipline of verification’ and called on Ghanaian journalists to tell stories that centre the truth.
“Journalists are at the heart and centre of the ecosystem, and they must be professional and ethical. And on a day like this, I need to remind myself and my colleagues that our obligation is to the truth, not to the government not opposition parties, not to our employers. As Bob Woodward puts it; journalism is a discipline of verification. So if it’s not true then its not news… He says put out the best information that is verifiable, if you can’t verify it don’t put it out.”
Bernard Avle speaking at the 70th-anniversary celebration of the Ghana Journalists Association, charged journalists to know that their allegiance is to citizens.
He was also of the view that one of the existential threat to press freedom is the lack of professional journalists in the country.
He further called on journalists to show respect for those who sacrificed for press freedom by publishing the truth.
“The media landscape because of technology, digital media and profit is now very nuanced and therefore there are people who put things out without verifying. There are opinion journalists and there is a lot of skulduggery. One of the most existential threats to press freedom is lack of professional practice for the space we have been given. We should respect the sacrifice of those who gave us that space by making sure we only published the truth. So that if we use the system to fight injustice, it will survive. If we insist on putting out the truth, we will gain the respect. I want to urge my colleagues to recommit themselves to truth. Our loyalty is to citizens and not businesses that advertise on our radio.”
Speaking at the event, Deputy Information Minister, Pius Enam Hadzide, also reiterated the Government’s commitment towards respecting press freedom in the country.
He also called on journalists, to be responsible in their reportage.
Former President John Agyekum Kufuor who was the guest of honour at the event also said upholding media freedom does not exempt media houses from operating in line with laid down regulations.
The former President, who is credited with the repeal of Ghana’s Criminal Libel Law, said media freedom in a democratic space does not permit one to operate without limitations.