Editors Forum condemns assaults on journalists

The Editors Forum, Ghana (EFG) on Monday expressed dismay over the incidents of assaults and other forms of intimidation of journalists and other media personnel in recent times.

A statement signed by Ms Ajoa Yeboah-Afari, Chairperson of the EFG, and copied to the Ghana News Agency said media exists to serve society, and therefore, even when media practitioners err in trying to serve the public interest, brutalising them was reprehensible and not the way to seek redress or prevent them from telling the story, and it was equally outrageous to seize or destroy their equipment.

It said Journalists are only the society’s messengers and there is no justification for killing the messenger, no matter how unpalatable the message.

“Indeed, physical attacks on media practitioners are counter-productive because they only serve to put the spotlight on the perpetrators, their institutions or whatever it is they wish to prevent from being publicized.

Adding that, “Nevertheless, even as we condemn the attacks, the EFG also cautions media colleagues to make professionalism and fairness central to their work to avoid generating bad blood”, it said.

The statement however, reminded journalists that, news is usually something that somebody does not want to be made public, hence the need for objectivity at all times.

It further advised members of the public who may have grievances against any journalist or media house to feel free to complain to the management of that media house, the Ghana Journalists Association or the National Media Commission.

“An assault on a journalist going about their news-gathering duties is an assault on all other practitioners as well as an attack on freedom of expression, which underpins democracy”, the statement noted.

“Furthermore, as has been proven time and again, the media you assault today may be the institution whose assistance you may need to tell your story tomorrow,” it added.