Understanding the Principles and Professional Ethics in Journalism, the Role of a Journalist

By Felix Engsalige Nyaaba (Repoter)

 People’s Right to True Information in a democratic country like Ghana lies solely on the shoulders of the Media and the failure of it role would leave the citizenry in a wanting and desperate search for information where it is not found.

People and individuals have the right to acquire an objective representation of reality by means of accurate and comprehensive information as well as to express themselves freely through the various media of society and communication.

It is out of this conviction that, I decided to catalogue some of the principles for our incorporation, as we prepared for the general election in December this year.

The foremost task of the journalist is to serve the people’s right to true and authentic information through an honest dedication to objective reality whereby facts are reported conscientiously in their proper context, pointing out their essential connections and without causing distortions, with due deployment of the creative capacity of the journalist, so that the public is provided with adequate material to facilitate the formation of an accurate and comprehensive picture of the world in which the origin, nature and essence of events, processes and states of affairs are understood as objectively as possible.

Information in journalism is understood as a social good and not as a commodity, which means that the journalist shares responsibility for the information transmitted and is thus accountable not only to those controlling the media but ultimately to the public at large, including various social interests. The journalist’s social responsibility requires that he or she will act under all circumstances in conformity with a personal ethical consciousness.

The social role of the journalist demands that the profession maintain high standards of integrity, including the journalist’s right to refrain from working against his or her conviction or from disclosing sources of information, as well as the right to participate in the decision-making of the medium in which he or she is employed. The integrity of the profession does not permit the journalist to accept any form of bribe or the promotion of any private interest contrary to the general welfare. Likewise it belongs to professional ethics to respect intellectual property and, in particular, to refrain from plagiarism.

The nature of the profession demands that the journalist promote access by the public to information and participation by the public in the media, including the right of correction or rectification and the right of reply.

An integral part of the professional standards of the journalist is respect for the right of the individual to privacy and human dignity, in conformity with provisions of international and national law concerning protection of the rights and the reputation of others, prohibiting libel, calumny, slander and defamation.

The professional standards of the journalist prescribe due respect for the national community, its democratic institutions and public morals.

 Respect for Universal Values and Diversity of Cultures

A true journalist stands for the universal values of humanism, above all peace, democracy, human rights, social progress and national liberation, while respecting the distinctive character, value and dignity of each culture, as well as the right of each people freely to choose and develop its political, social, economic and cultural systems. Thus the journalist participates actively in the social transformation towards democrative betterment of society and contributes through dialogue to a climate of confidence in international relations conducive to peace and justice everywhere, to détente, disarmament and national development. It belongs to the ethics of the profession that the journalist be aware of relevant provisions contained in international conventions, declarations and resolutions.

The ethical commitment to the universal values of humanism calls for the journalist to abstain from any justification for, or incitement to, wars of aggression, and the arms race, especially in nuclear weapons, and all other forms of violence, hatred or discrimination, especially racialism and apartheid, oppression by tyrannical regimes, colonialism and neo-colonialism, as well as other great evils which afflict humanity, such as poverty, malnutrition and diseases. By so doing, the journalist can help eliminate ignorance and misunderstanding among peoples, make nationals of a country sensitive to the needs and desires of others, ensure the respect for the rights and dignity of all nations, all peoples and all individuals without distinction of race, sex, language, nationality, religion or philosophical conviction.

The journalist operates in the contemporary world within the framework of a movement towards new international relations in general and a new information order in particular. This new order, understood as in integral part of the New International Economic Order, is aimed at the de-colonisation and democratisation of the field of information and communication, both nationally and internationally, on the basis of peaceful coexistence among peoples and with full respect for their cultural identity. The journalist has a special obligation to promote the process of democratisation of international relations in the field of information, in particular by safeguarding and fostering peaceful and friendly relations among States and peoples.

Just stay relaxed, i shall be back with more ethical and professional surgery articles that would shape you as a professional journalist, sheers, and friends of the inky- fraternity.