By Mudasiru Abdul Yakeen
The Eastern Regional Chairman of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Maxwell Kudekor, has asked journalists to seek expert opinions when reporting on the novel coronavirus pandemic.
This, he says, will reduce the level of fear in the system and also eliminate the amount of misinformation churned into the system.
The GJA regional chairman further entreated journalists to avoid racial profiling in their reportage and act responsibly when disseminating information.
Mr Kudekor stated that news from the media is perceived as the gospel truth, adding that it is therefore incumbent on journalists to put out the right information, especially in times like this.
Orientation workshop
The GJA chairman was speaking at a regional orientation workshop organised by the Ministry of Information, the Ghana Health Services and the USAID Breakthrough Action Project for journalists in Koforidua on how to share basic information on COVID-19 to the public.
The orientation also sought to build consensus on the best practices of communicating constructively and using initiatives that will motivate the public to understand the impact of the pandemic.
The GJA chairman seized the opportunity to plead with government to consider journalists when rolling out protective plans in times like this.
“I think the government should also pay attention to journalists because they are also frontline workers, without a doubt. It is the journalists that report from these markets and hospitals where the pandemic is likely to be circulating; therefore, government must at least help the journalists too,” he said.
