Ghanaian media professionals have been urged to maintain high ethical standards in an evolving media landscape. This came up during a discussion at a research seminar organised by the Directorate of Research Innovation and Development (DRID) of the University of Media, Arts and Communication, on Friday, July 26th 2024.

The conference, which was held online via Zoom brought together media professionals, academics, and students to discuss the critical issue of journalism ethics and its application in today's fast-paced, digital-driven world.

Speaking on the topic "Journalism standards in Ghana: an Academic -Industry solutions for quality reportage”, panels composed of seasoned journalists, media trainers, and legal experts, underscored the need for thorough verification processes and the challenges faced by the industry in upholding ethical standards.

Prof Etse Sikanku, Director of DRID, explained that the seminar was prompted by the controversy surrounding Chef Smith’s Guinness World Record (GWR) attempt for the longest cooking marathon in Ghana. Several media outlets initially reported the claim, which was later turned out to be false.

Nana Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng, a consultant in communication, media and culture explained that the media has the responsibility to serve the public interest by providing accurate and unbiased information to the people.

He emphasized the need to obey basic standards in journalism by doing thorough verification before sharing any information stressing that failure to do so would not only erode trust in the media but also play into the hands of those seeking to undermine press freedom.

"…So all the things that constitute the standards are objectivity, neutrality, and whatever. The standard was that you had to save the public interest. And it is from that basis that we derive all the ethical standards and all the other issues that pertain to this issue" he stated.

Further, Gyan-Apenteng stated that news publication is a process and there must be various structures at every level to fact-check and scrutinize what they are churning out. When all the necessary processes are heeded, it will help reduce common errors of misinformation and disinformation.

"And so, in the olden days, you had very clear steps to the point where in terms of the newspaper your editor takes over and can make changes. So, the point is that you need at every point, someone to take responsibility. You need at every point, someone to push it up to the next level, and sign off", he added.

Emefa Apawu, a seasoned journalist at the Multimedia Group Limited, also stressed the importance of media organizations setting up robust internal structures that help in gatekeeping news information. She recounted how the organizational structure at her firm prevented them from publishing the news about Chef Smith’s GWR cook-a-thon attempt that day.

According to her, these structures scrutinized every piece of information and did enough research and when they did not get the green light they did not go on with the story. She explained that even though journalists may want to be the first to break news stories, it was always ethical that they got enough accurate information before going ahead with the story.

"… it was important that we check first by verifying so I recall I went to the studio and told Evans this is what we have, I have done the headline, but we are still checking, what do we do? And he said he was also checking. That time Chef Smith had yet to address the conference and we were asking his team what exactly was going on, but nobody was giving anything, that was when our instinct clicked in and we said let’s wait and see…”.

Dr Tim Quashigah, a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Journalism and Media Studies at the University of Media Arts and Communication -Institute of Journalism (UniMAC-IJ) also emphasized the need for individual journalists and media practitioners to be responsible for their practice and operations aside from the pressure they may face from their organizations or other superior factors. "But in dealing with all of these challenges, my colleagues have mentioned whether it is a question of a multiplicity of media pressure from the political authority, pressure from economic interest, the political economy of news and all of that, we can go and look for the problems, but in handling all of these problems, I will prescribe there should be a journalism of urgency. By that, the journalists must make their own decisions and be responsible for their actions and inaction".

He explained that the consequences that could result in journalists' irresponsibility are dire and could negatively affect everyone and even the entire nation.

"So it's okay to publish or stream live online. But in the end, you have to take responsibility for your actions and inaction because you don't want to do something that would damage your credibility for life. There's no way you can take it back. Even if you offer a rejoinder, are you going to assemble everybody to listen to it, to read it? You can cause a coup by what you write and we know if there is an insurrection, if there is a problem, we all know the whole State can be Stateless.”

Legal practitioner and lecturer of Media Law and Ethics at UniMAC-IJ, Zakaria Tanko Musa, also explored the legal implications of ethical breaches in journalism. According to him, his research shows many ethical breaches often result in legal implications for media practitioners.

He thus advised that student journalists are taken through rigorous training and education that will help show professionalism in the field whilst applauding the collaboration between academia and industry to change the narrative.

“For me, I think it is very important. The topic is academia and industry solutions because when we train them and they go out there they leave our hands, and now the rest is left with the industry. How is the industry ensuring that there is the theoretical and sometimes the practical training the students have gained in the classrooms, how are they making sure that these things are accurately carried on going forward”, he stated. Mr Tanko further cautioned media houses not to choose speed over accuracy since that could jeopardise their reputation.

The seminar concluded with a wake-up call for student journalists, practicing journalists, and the media, to adhere to ethical principles and standards that have long been the bedrock of responsible journalism.

It was moderated by Mr Noel Nutsugah, a Public Relations lecturer at the Faculty of Public Relations, Advertising and Marketing (FOPAM) at UniMAC-IJ.

Chef Smith began his cooking marathon on 1st February and ended on 6th March 2024 at Community 18, Tema in front of Amadia Shopping Centre.

On July 2, 2024, Chef Smith hosted the press conference at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra and claimed he had been adjudged the new record holder for cooking for 802 hours and 25 minutes. He showed a certificate to the media which he said was given to him by the Guinness World Record.

Following the event, the management of the main sponsor of the cooking marathon “Amadia Shopping Centre” instigated his arrest for not acknowledging them.
This led to people questioning the authenticity of Chef Smith’s certificate and claims prompting the media to now verify from Guinness World Record which later turned out to be false claims.

“No this is not true. He does not hold the GWR title and that is not our certificate. The current and true holder is: the longest cooking marathon (individual) 199 hours 57 mins 16secs and was achieved by Alan Fisher (Ireland) in Matsue, Shimane, Japan, from 28 September to 3 October 2023”, GWR clarified in a response to the media.