GJA approves new code of ethics for practitioners
The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has approved a new code of ethics for the association. The new code, which contains 24 guidelines and is to replace the 1994 guidelines of the GJA, is to ensure the highest journalistic standards in the country.
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It also takes cognizance of all ethical breaches identified in the practice of journalism in the country.
Some of the breaches include hoax stories, fabrications, publishing stories without sourcing and promotional materials.
Drafted under the chairmanship of Dr Kweku Rockson, the new code makes provisions for traditional, social and new media to improve on the qualitative performance of media practitioners in the country.
The upgraded and simplified code was put together in collaboration with the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) of Germany.
Significance
Addressing members of the Validation Committee in Accra, the President of the GJA, Mr Affail Monney, said it had become necessary to revise the code of ethics to meet new challenges.
According to him, media pluralism and diversity, the increasing number of radio and television stations, as well as the emergence of new media, had made the media landscape complex and difficult to manage.
“The new code proves the GJA’s commitment to promote professional quality assurance, media accountability and credibility,” he said.
He urged journalists to study the content of the new code to ensure professionalism in the discharge of their respective duties.
For his the part, the Director of Newspapers at the Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), Mr Yaw Boadu-Ayeboafoh, asked journalists to be responsible in the discharge of their duties, saying that could be achieved if they read more to improve on their capacities.
He said studying the new code of ethics would also make journalists stand out in their practice.
The director commended the FES for supporting the review exercise.
The Resident Director of the FES, Mr Fritz Kopsieker, described the Ghanaian media as vibrant.
He advised media practitioners to study and uphold the new ethics to guide them in their duties.