Gayheart Mensah urges journalists to put ethics ahead speed

Gayheart Mensah, a senior media professional, has called upon journalists to prioritize ethics and responsible reporting over the speed of breaking news. He made his remarks at a symposium organized by the Media Research Institute, MRI Ghana. The rapid spread of information through social media and news platforms has presented new challenges for journalists, making it crucial for them to thoroughly examine information before publishing.

Mensah cautioned journalists against assuming that information is accurate merely because it has been widely circulated. He emphasized the need to trace the source of information, scrutinize the evidence, seek independent verification, and provide affected individuals with the chance to respond. Furthermore, journalists should consider the potential repercussions of their reporting, particularly when handling allegations that might tarnish the reputation of people or institutions.

During the symposium, themed "Reflections on Prof. Jason Arday’s Plagiarism Probe: Upholding Academic Integrity and Journalism Ethics," Ghana Broadcasting Corporation's Director-General, Professor Amin Alhassan, highlighted the digital transformation of the media, which offers opportunities but also poses ethical challenges. He stressed the importance of adhering to accuracy, verification, fairness, attribution, and accountability, urging journalists to differentiate between allegations and verified facts.

He also underscored the significance of corrections and retractions when inaccuracies are discovered. Professor Audrey Gadzekpo, former Dean of the School of Information and Communication Studies at the University of Ghana, urged journalists to go beyond merely disseminating information already circulating online. She recommended that journalists verify claims with relevant institutions, obtain independent confirmation, and clearly communicate what is confirmed versus what remains unresolved.

Gadzekpo also stressed the importance of proportionality and fairness when reporting matters with potential significant consequences for individuals. The discussions further touched upon the increasing use of artificial intelligence and digital tools in journalism and academia. Gadzekpo cautioned that while technology can aid in detecting similarities and processing information, it should not replace human judgment, professional scrutiny, and independent verification.

The speakers agreed that the competitive pressure for audience attention should not undermine the core principles of journalism. They advocated for robust newsroom editorial checks, multi-source verification, proper attribution, ample opportunity for response, and mechanisms for correcting errors. Thus, the symposium underscored the necessity for journalists to remain accountable for the information they disseminate to the public.

Mensah concluded by emphasizing that the reputation of the journalism profession ultimately hinges on the ethical decisions made by individual journalists. The symposium concluded with a broader appeal for Ghanaian media organizations to adapt to the digital era while preserving the professional standards that uphold public trust.