Media practitioners sensitized on code of conduct

Media practitioners have been urged to exhibit professionalism in their reportage on sensitive national issues, especially the 2012 Election Petition, which the entire nation await the final verdict on August 29.

Mr. Charles Van Dyck, an executive member of the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA), said because the media played a crucial role in ensuring peace and stability in the country, it should desist from inciting chaos.

He made the call at a zonal workshop on the “Enforcement of GIBA Code of Conduct: Election Adjudication intervention’’ for media members of GIBA from the Western and Central Regions, in Takoradi, on Friday.

The GIBA organized the workshop in collaboration with the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), National Peace Council and National Media Commission (NMC) with funding from the STAR-Ghana.

Mr. Van Dyck also appealed to private media owners to employ professional journalists and to desist from interfering with the reportage of anchors.

This, according to him, would promote objectivity in the industry and prevent chaos in the country, saying “the future of this country lies solely in our hands like a boiled egg, he stressed”.

Mrs. Charlotte Osei, Chairperson of NCCE, entreated media practitioners, especially talk show host to invite credible resource persons with the know how to analyze issues instead of inviting politicians.

According to her, politicians had the tendency of being biased in their analysis.

The Deputy Executive Secretary of the NMC, Mr. Alex Bannerman said his office would enforce laws to monitor news broadcast in the local dialect.

He, therefore, urged the public to monitor the code of conducts of anchors and report offenders to the NMC.

Mr. Bannerman said media practitioners that flouted the law would be suctioned according.

Source: GNA