Responsible Journalism- How 'Smart' Is Captain Smart?

In journalism, a sure sign of true professionalism is the ability to hold oneself accountable in the delivery and execution of one's journalism duties. And this encompasses the collection, collation and reporting of news.

So Captain Smart has been suspended due to some issues about some ‘uncertain allegations’ or comments he made on his breakfast show on Adom FM according to his employer-Multimedia.

One thing about the Multimedia outfit as a media institution is that, no matter who you are, despite your pedigree in the industry, when you cross their disciplinary lines, they will show you where their power lies.

Sometime ago, they did same to their own presenter Kojo Yankson of the breakfast show on Joy FM. This sort of action keeps the media fraternity of Ghana in a good stead.

As a matter of fact, it is only the big or rich media institutions who can afford to instil discipline in their staff through thick and thin as they can hire or 'fire' anyone at any given time.

The crux of the matter is that, according to information, Captain Smart has been warned and cautioned by his employers-Multimedia on several occasions to desist from such act. But Captain Smart continues to throw his cautions to the winds by doing otherwise, hence his suspension.

Knowingly speaking, Captain Smart is not a novice within the Ghanaian media industry and for that matter; he arguably knows exactly what he is doing.

His style and approach is to maybe stoke 'fire' in order to blow-out potential criminals out of their criminalities. And that is what his employers- Multimedia, is trying to dodge or avoid just in case there is a summon or some court charges lingering from beyond the horizon with regards to the proverbial allegations.

Let's not forget the fact that in Ghana, to sometimes find the fact, truth or evidential proof of an incident, one has to apply all the tricks in the tricky books in order to ascertain the definitive truth embedded within the said incident.

So maybe that is what Captain Smart is arguably trying to apply and imply. Then again what Multimedia has done should serve as a deterrent to other radio presenters or journalists who tread and trade their duties in such a manner.

So what is the way forward for both Captain Smart and his employers as both like to believe in whatever they are doing in their individual perspectives?

On his comeback trail, Captain Smart will either mellow to the detriment of the breakfast show thereby dwindling audience share which is unthinkable. Or turn up the heat and accelerate the breakfast show to its apex with the best of his capabilities.

All things being equal, as and when the Multimedia 'Disciplinary Kettle' cools down, we would all see the next action from both parties.

Till then, Captain Smart is still ‘The Captain One’ what do you say?

BY WILFRED CLARKE.