As part of efforts to affirm its hold as the leading media company in Ghana, staff of TV3 and its affiliates have been taken through yet another capacity building program in preparation towards the 2016 elections.

This forms part of management’s decision to build a formidable team of broadcast journalists, reporters, producers and editors to ensure that the upcoming elections is given fair, accurate and balanced reportage.

Speakers who addressed the journalists included Professor Kwame Karikari, Founder of the Media Foundation for West Africa, Nana Kwabena Nketsia V, Chief of the Essikado Traditional Area, Honourable Kojo Yankah, President and Founder of African University College of Communication (AUCC) and Board Chairman of TV3.

Code of Conduct for Journalists – Prof. Kwame Kakari
The founder for Media Foundation for West Africa urged the gathering to be circumspect in their reportage and cautioned against negative content which attacks personalities and institutions.

Outlining some of the challenges of the media, Prof. Karikari noted that distilling the facts and reliable ideas, exposing falsehood and giving accurate reportage has been the bane for many a journalist.

He however indicated that the media is mandated to uphold its tenets of Informing, Educating and Entertaining the public adding that “you must accurately inform you audience.

‘The media must protect the rights and dignity of the persons irrespective of their public status and this does not mean that if they flout the law or do something untoward, you should shield them.’

Media and Elections – Prof. Kojo Yankah
The Board Chairman of TV3 was quite categorical in this delivery urging all to always prepare by researching and cross checking facts before their programs.

He said facts, designations, names, titles should be clearly known and put out during all presentation, stories should be straight to the point and detailed, on air and off air posturing is very vital and must always be professional especially on the part of presenters.

Prof. Yankah also indicated that the election period is always tensed and asked for lighter stories from journalists to help diffuse the tense uptight nature of the period.

He urged presenters and by extension all persons working in any media house to be cautious of their image and guard it jealously. “Be responsible for your image, the image of the media house and the group as a whole.”

Media and Culture – Nana Kobina Nketsia V
The renowned chief challenged the gathering to think Ghana first and ensure that their stories inform and educate people rather than divisive stories which have the potential of causing fear and panic and unnecessary tension.

He said “the media is a conscious industry and we must be aware of what goes in and out” adding that the media “controls the mind of the people, use it wisely.”

Pointers:
*We have picked up the politics of competition, allowing people to use any means necessary to win.
*When you pick up someone’s culture to manage your space, you are working to the benefit of their culture, not yours.
*Culture structures your mind, and the way that you think.
*We prefer using the language of our oppressors instead of using Dagbon, Fante, etc.
*Media as a tool is not understood by some of the people in the industry.

This is the third in the series of training sessions the Media General (MG) group consisting TV3, 3Fm, Onua FM, Akoma Fm, Connect Fm and the online portal 3news.com has taken its staff through to better equip them.

By Martin Asiedu-Dartey|3news.com|Ghana
Twitter: @3newsgh