The Media, Not Immune To Corruption

The media has unchallengeably been described as the fourth estate of the government. The role of the media in especially every democratic society such as ours can never be downplayed. The media among others is to serve as a watchdog to the government as well as other private institutions. We rely on the media to know what is going on. It holds government accountable by making known what it is doing, so that people can make informed decisions and judgments. Democracy depends upon information and the media profession facilitates such information flow. To do this, the media is bent on bringing into public domain any untenable conduct by certain individuals in the society, especially our public officials. This indisputably shapes our development in all efforts. However, the media in undertaking this nationalistic duty is required to examine all the cardinal principles of societal interest rather than any pursuit of parochial interest.

Today, most of our public officials are branded to be corrupt in the mind of most Ghanaians due to the numerous reportage from the mass media which portrays them to be so. It is even on records that some of these media houses on their own volition reported, after intensive investigations, some of these alleged corrupt conducts on the part of some our public officials to the appropriate authorities which, commendably, led to the imposition of various sanctions onto those dishonest officers. This contribution by the media is not limited to the public officials only, but also to private persons alike. This undeniably, enhances fairness, prudent management, accountability and transparency in the management of the Ghanaian society.

It is said that, he who wants equity (fairness) must do equity. Equally, he who comes to equity must come with clean hands. Over the years, the attitude of some of our media houses especially that of the electronic is highly unethical of which Ghanaians could not sit unconcerned but to subject them to the same constructive criticism and scrutiny to ensure that we benefit from them fully. The media is a watchdog to society and vice versa.

These days, it is not uncommon for majority of our reporters and news presenters, to demand money from the public before they undertake their duly professional or constitutional obligation. This attitude is highly prevalent in areas where the news to be covered is that of social rather than sensational or political for the mere public attention and excitement. Unless one pays such reporters and presenters certain amount of money, one’s news item, no matter how potential it is, is going to be killed (unreported though witnessed) notwithstanding how spectacular the subject would be of help to society. Ironically, one can obtain any stuff of his interest to be published in some media whether or not it tends to benefit society in so far as the unethical custom (payola or solidarity) is performed to some reporters or presenters.

Interestingly, such a reporter or presenter may even refuse to make known the said event where the amount involved is not substantial to satisfy the demand of his (such reporter). In fact, no one can assert that, it is not wrong to receive money from the public in performing one’s contractual or lawful duty, but what we should also guide against is to make such an unprofessional act a prerequisite to our delivery.

Sadly enough, some dishonest reporters or news presenters may refuse to bring to the public domain any sensitive information to his or her knowledge if he is greased in the palm to do so. Some of them however may make an attempt to publish such news but in a twisted manner. Some of our journalists are making this all important profession to appear as if, anyone at all can buy any of our media houses for his personal ambition to the detriment of the larger society.

It is true that the media is entitled to its immutable editorial freedom but this right should not be the guise to perpetuate any illegal mission. Our much-needed media houses can never be justified in any way to productively hold any member of our society to task by scrutinizing them to act fairly while they themselves are blemished with this unscrupulous conduct. This, it is submitted, would amount to a mere hypocrisy in the highest order. To coin any entrusted obligation for private gain amounts to a naked corruption. The media is supposed to be fair not biased or unreceptive.

The media like all other institutions is not immune to corruption hence, the need for the media in Ghana to subject themselves to the same constructive criticisms as it does to other institutions and persons alike. In pointing a finger at the other person one should not forget that the remaining four fingers of ours are pointing at us.

To conclude, it must be pointed out that the media is indispensable in any meaningful society since it tends to straighten the path we should tread thereby propelling our national development. This crucial contribution may however not be fully achieved if the above disreputable trait dominates the sense of our reporters and news presenters to the detriment of the citizenry. It is high time Ghana Journalist Association (G.J.A) and the ilk intensified its quest to rule out some of these bad nuts in our midst whose selfish interest is carving a bad image for the profession. It is recommended that there should be reasonable improvement in the conditions of service for all workers of the various media houses in Ghana. Besides, frequent in-service training should be instituted. It is finally advocated that, the National Media Commission should be given the needed power to sanction all persons and media houses who flout their code of ethics.

Obeng Mensah Richard, Faculty of Law, KNUST
Center for Human Rights and Advanced Legal Research (CHRALER), Kumasi.

Views expressed by the author(s) do not necessarily reflect those of GhanaHomePage.