At a capacity-building workshop themed “Empowering Journalists for Credible Elections: Enhancing Reporting and Fact-Checking Skills,” Andrew Edwin Arthur, President of the Private Newspapers and Online News Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG), delivered a powerful address highlighting the critical role of the media in ensuring credible and transparent election coverage.
The workshop, which brought together key stakeholders, including the Minister for Information, MCE of Yilo Krobo, and the Eastern Regional Electoral Commission Director, underscored the media’s role as a pillar of democracy.
Andrew Edwin Arthur emphasized the need for journalists to uphold ethics and professionalism, especially during election periods, stating that media practitioners “hold the key to the peace and stability of this country.”
He expressed concern over negative trends affecting the media landscape, such as needless politicization, lack of adherence to ethical standards, and sensationalism.
These practices, according to Andrew Edwin Arthur, have eroded public trust in the media and led to a decline in patronage of private newspapers. To combat these issues, PRINPAG’s leadership has introduced measures to ensure members return to ethical journalism, including a new code of ethics and disciplinary actions for violations.
Arthur urged participants to stay neutral and avoid sensationalism in their election reporting. “We will be doing our nation a great deal of harm if we allow politicians to channel through us, intemperate languages or words of hatred that could lead to chaos,” he warned.
The workshop aimed to equip journalists with the skills to report on the upcoming general elections with integrity and objectivity. Arthur called on participants to critically examine party manifestos and explain policies to the public, ensuring voters make informed decisions.
In closing, he thanked the Minister for her support in organizing the event and reaffirmed PRINPAG’s commitment to fostering a credible, ethical media environment
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