By Mavis Otchere and Angela Adu-Asomaning
Media and Communication Expert, Prof. Kwame Karikari, has advised journalists to exercise extreme caution and uphold the highest standards of accuracy in their reporting. According to Prof. Karikari, journalists should diligently verify information, double and triple-check facts, and return to the core principles of journalism to ensure precise and reliable reportage. He said this will help avoid defamation suits, which can have serious consequences for both journalists and media organizations.
Prof. Karikari also encouraged media personnel to prioritize the public interest by engaging in advocacy journalism to promote justice, equity, and fairness. He made these remarks at a two-day workshop organized for journalists and media professionals in Accra.
In today’s fast-paced media landscape, journalists face numerous challenges in reporting accurate and unbiased information. One of the most significant risks is defamation, which can have severe consequences for journalists and media organizations. The forum, which was organized by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) brought together media professionals from across the country to discuss the risks associated with defamation suits and ways of promoting responsible journalism while ensuring freedom of expression.
The event also focused on ways to combat misinformation and disinformation. Prof. Karikari highlighted some challenges facing journalists in Ghana. “If you are reporting the activities or pronunciation of people from political parties, you have to be very careful. If you don’t verify enough, you might repeat the defamatory statement a partisan person has made, and that could put you into a lot of trouble, ” he noted.
Media practitioner and lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Journalism, Zakaria Musa Tanko, emphasized the importance of fact-checking, accuracy and fairness. He stressed that adherence to the code of ethics is crucial for professional journalists. “we don’t cross-check our facts, we want to be the first with the news and in doing so, we don’t do the basic things we should do, to verify the source of every information be putting out there.”
Legal Practitioner, Samson Lardy Anyenini touched on how journalists can avoid defamation suits. “The way to avoid defamation suits is to be sure that you are always dealing with the facts. Because truth is an absolute defense in defamation. If it is not false then, it is true, then it means you are Safe,” He said.
The event was part of a broader effort by MFWA to promote freedom of expression and media development in Ghana by building the capacity of media practitioners to produce high-quality, accurate, and balanced reporting. This, in turn, will reduce the risk of defamation suits and promote a culture of responsible journalism.
