On
a sad note of bereavement, members of the inky fraternity are mourning the loss
of Samual Nuamah, Ghanaian Times Reporter, through a bizarre accident at Shai
Hills Area. This incident comes at the tale of an eventful awards ceremony a
fortnight ago.
Largely,
described as a thought-provoking profession that conveys expressions of
people’s ideas, sentiments and views on various topics across great distance;
journalism is also said to be a people to people venture that echoes activities
of interest to people and on things that bothers on their survival. Some are of
the view that it is an omnibus that carries essential news, information that excites,
entertains or tickles the conscience of people in a society.
Undoubtedly,
journalism is a catalyst that helps project and drives an agenda or concerns of
a people or organisation to make an impact on people and on society at large.
Through
the special act of news or information gathering, packaging and dissemination
in print, on screen, on the waves and online, journalists to a larger extent have
pushed, influenced and ensured the socioeconomic development of the Ghanaian
society, even though there is more room for improvement.
Pressures and
demands of the Job
That
journalism is part of the creative industry, which demands new, refreshing, interesting
and exciting or innovative, means journalists or media practitioners ought to
meticulously think on their feet in order to generate and develop good
storylines. The nuances that comes with this job, imposes a great deal of
responsibility on media professionals to think, make good judgment ad take
appropriate action with regards to what is newsworthy and what is not.
Similarly,
the deadlines given for completion of news report or programmes, compels
journalists or media practitioners to act with speed, notwithstanding the
professional demands of accuracy, objectivity, balance and timeliness. There is
no point denying the fact that there is pressure on media practitioners to
deliver at all time, some even working late into the night. These efforts,
challenges practitioners to always be abreast with issues to make them current,
but the pressure and stress is seldom mentioned.
Challenges and
risks at stake
There
are occupational hazards in every profession and the Media Profession has its
fair share. The risks may include verbal or physical attacks by news-makers, accidents,
deaths, libel charges, incorrect or biased reports and errors. Other challenges
include low remuneration; standardization of ‘soli’ by event organizers and the
disgraceful demand of it by some journalists, as well as weak or non-existent
risk insurance cover for many Journalists in the country.
It
would interest you to know the trouble these media practitioners go through
daily in gathering information and news packaging for public consumption. Often
time, they are the very people who amplify the poor working conditions of other
workers but rarely talks about their unfortunate conditions.
In
fact, as I watched footage of the mangled Ford vehicle the Presidential Press
Corps were traveling on which was involved in last Thursday accident, and
leaflets or pieces of reporters note books scattered all over the accident
scene, I wondered what becomes of the deceased family and the injured. I
wondered whether there is an insurance package for them and many others who
were injured. I wondered what the situation might have been if they were better
working conditions for journalists by all media organization in the country.
Role of GJA, NMC
and Media organization
Maybe
we can forgive the past for not awakening us to these realities or for allowing
us to forget the essence of taking a critical look at the risk or hazards in
the media profession. But today, with a rich blend of expertise in the
Journalism front more than ever, and with an undying zeal to make the fourth
estate of the realm a more relevant, active and effective tool in championing
democracy, it behooves members of the inky fraternity to collectively work on
better welfare or conditions for the Ghanaian Journalist.
Maybe
we need to move beyond just issuing messages of condolences in solidarity with
attacked or fallen members. Maybe we need to do more rather than just
sympathize with the bereaved families. Maybe we need to extend our support
beyond just naming awards in memory of these fallen members. Maybe it is time
to do something concrete to champion a better Journalist Welfare Scheme in
Ghana. Maybe we need to do more in terms of organising training programmes, and
looking at ways to utilize the Media Fund for the professional improvement of members
of the association and champion professional excellence and by effect improved
standards of the Ghanaian media, instead of limiting GJA’s activities to the
Awards Ceremony or election monitoring.
Thus,
in the same light that the GJA Code of Ethics was drafted and adopted as a
binding Code or standard guide for Journalists work in Ghana, it is also imperative
for the media to highlight and champion better working condition of service for
journalists in the country. This condition of service should spell out a proper
plan for insurance against risk in line of duty. The GJA and in fact the National
Media Commission must work hand-in-hand to spearhead the enactment of such
conditions and compel or encourage media institutions or organizations to sign
onto it, to ensure better welfare for journalists and media practitioners in
the country. This way we will be blessing the memory of the vibrant and
enthusiastic Samuel Nuamah.
