Some media practitioners in the Ashanti Region have been urged to strike a delicate balance between informing the public and preserving national security when reporting on defence and security issues.

The call was made during a specialised capacity-building workshop organised by Transparency International Ghana to equip journalists with the technical knowledge, ethical frameworks and skills needed to effectively cover defence and security matters.

Addressing participants, Michael Kwame Boadi, Fundraising Manager at Transparency International Ghana, said defence reporting remains a highly specialised field that cannot be effectively covered without adequate knowledge and training.

He noted that defence reporting in Ghana is currently underdeveloped, attributing the challenge to a lack of specialised training among journalists, widespread fear and historically strained relationships between the media and security agencies.

While acknowledging that confidentiality is essential within the defence sector, he emphasised that journalists must learn how to navigate security sensitivities responsibly.

"Defence and security is a specialised area; you cannot report on issues relating to that sector without the proper skills and know-how. It is a balancing act. You need to know what to preserve in the national interest and what to publish in the national interest. You must maintain a delicate balance so that, in attempting to broadcast news, you do not cause chaos, deepen conflicts or compromise state security," he said.

To address these challenges, the organisers partnered with experts from the United Kingdom who have conducted extensive research in defence journalism to help tailor the training curriculum to Ghana's local context.

According to the organisers, the workshop aims to demystify defence operations while fostering mutual trust and professional collaboration between media practitioners and security institutions.

Boadi further cautioned journalists against prioritising sensationalism over substance, urging them to move beyond headline-chasing and focus on development journalism.

"Development journalism is not just about reporting what happened, but about highlighting the impact of what happened on the lives of people," he said.

Addressing the rise of digital media, Boadi acknowledged that while social media has significantly improved the speed and reach of news dissemination, it also presents challenges relating to content quality and verification.

He therefore urged media practitioners to use digital platforms responsibly by consistently producing accurate, professional and credible content.