Responsible Press Or Responsible Reporting?

Does reporting negatives on the development of the three regions of the north,especially Tamale always bring you joy ?

Should i call this moral meltdown of most of the fourth realms of the estate? Just not long ago,the lecturer who takes me "Journalism"elaborated on the "Ghana Journalists Association code of ethics " and he was right to do so.

"Article 1; the right to true information"; how is this fundamental principle fulfilled under the constitutional regalia of journalism when what is fed to the Ghanaian populace is always a hyperbole ?We have the right to consume authentic information and to use it to draw conclusive decisions.

The media should not do the thinking for us,we are rational beings too.They should not try to manipulate our thoughts; second level agenda setting.They should not try to lure us into thinking in their line of interpretation.

It's appalling on the part of such a renown and remarkable realm to mislead the public by framing and difusing into the general public a bizarre picture of the Northern region by choice of it's words "VIOLENT NATURE OF THE NORTHERN REGION"

The creation of negative imageries of the north does not only affect the people of the north but,the whole country.Am sure Northern region is not an island on its own.

It is prudent to mention that,when a part of the body becomes dysfunctional,the whole body suffers/feels it.If the media hyperbolically report issues on northern Ghana,we will all face it's consequences socially and economically.

"Separating facts from comments-GJA";a code we can not shy away from.This is what today's media is entangled in. Mere lip-service or hand-service does not guarantee the all-inclusive description given to the people of the north.A news item should be free from bias.The problem stems down from "I want to be the first to report" syndrome which leaves information worded to these media houses unscrutinized.

Choice of words; the diction of a realm that seeks to lace the nation together should be very well chosen.It should exercise a lot of restrain and stand afar from words that might spark unhealthy responses from the public.

I believe circulation and sensationalism has been and will always be the problem of the fourth realms of the estate.Development in the north has been reported in such a way that when there is an occurrence what you hear is "Oye northerner ni" or "pepe fuo ni" what is so wrong about being a northerner?

Is the social responsibility theory of the press in play here; are we having a Responsible press ? Is the media reporting responsibly ?

I urge that these realms that people depend on to feed their interest in what happens in other parts of the country should desist from such types of reporting and exercise caution in their choice of words over what they report.

Written by: ABDULAI M. GADAFI