Francis Kokutse, a Media Expert has asked the National Media Commission to steps up its role in sanitizing content that is broadcast by media organisations and practitioners. Meanwhile, Mr. Kokutse has also asked the public to resort to the laws on defamation to address the supposed slights against them by media practitioners. This he said, would go a long way to protect journalists, while also ensuring a properly sanitized airwave.
He said this when he spoke on A1 Radio’s Day Break Upper East on the occasion of the World Radio Day celebrated by UNESCO on the 13th of February each year.
Recounting his days as a vibrant media practitioner, Mr. Koutse said the Former President was ‘a breath of fresh air’ because of his level of tolerance as opposed to the period before his administration; the PNDC era. He said under the PNDC, the available media organisations; Graphic Communications Group, Ghana Broadcasting Corporation and the New Times Corporation were careful not to carry stories that would offend the political leadership of the country.
He however was quick to add that some journalists have abused their freedom of speech. “In a way, some journalists are being wayward. A true journalist must check and cross-check his facts. If somebody tells me something, i must go and find out or even talk to whoever I am talking about. Sometimes, some journalists do not do that. They open themselves to attacks.
Mr. Kokutse insisted that the right thing must be done, reminding journalists that they are not above the law adding that “every journalist must operate within the media law. That is why they teach media law so that you know that you cannot just write falsehood”.
Meanwhile, the seeming ‘attacks’ on some media practitioners and outlets in recent times have been blamed on political intolerance. Marking the World Radio Day on Day Break Upper East, the General Manager of A1 Radio, a subsidiary of Agreed Best Communication Limited, William Nlanjerbor Jalulah said the current atmosphere under the present political administration could not be described as friendly.
World Radio Day (WRD), celebrated on February 13 each year is to recognize the transformation radio has brought the lives of many across the globe. This year, on the occasion of WRD, UNESCO called on radio stations to celebrate the Day through three sub-themes: Trust in radio journalism: Produce independent and high-quality content; Trust and accessibility: Take care of your audience; and Trust and viability of radio stations: Ensure competitiveness.
A1Radioonline.com|101.1MHz|Mark Kwasi Ahumah Smith|Bolgatanga|Ghana
