GJA asked to spell out who qualifies to be called a journalist

Accra, March 13, GNA - The Ghana News Agency (GNA) Chapter of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has called on the national executive to come out clearly with who qualifies as a journalist in order to weed out the numerous impostors dragging the image of the profession in the mud.

They suggested that it should recognise or see only graduates from the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) and the School of Communications Studies, University of Ghana, Legon, as journalists.

The Chapter made this call at its first quarterly meeting at the weekend chaired by Mr Charles Koomson, Chapter Chairman. The Chapter cited several instances where people went to cover assignments to which they are not invited and harass organisers of programmes for money.

The meeting said what is happening is not new and asked the GJA Executive to, as a matter of urgency, fashion a "fool-proof" means by which this disturbing trend could be halted.

Members described as demeaning and humiliating the situation where people who are not trained journalists infiltrate their ranks and bring journalism into disrepute.

Mr Koomson asked all journalists to alert organisers of the presence of impostors at assignments. He said even though there are some problems associated with the issue, everything must be done to ensure that quacks are eliminated from the system.

Mr Gideon Sackitey, deputy secretary of Grater Accra GJA, said the Chapter would soon begin updating the list of journalists at GNA and issue ID cards that must be worn at assignments for easy identification by organisers.

He, therefore, urged other chapters to also find other ways or adopt the same means of making their members noticed and accorded the necessary respect at assignments.

Mr Sackitey urged editors to desist from assigning non-journalists to cover assignments.