GJA CODE OF ETHICS

GJA CODE AND ETHICS

Every institution is regulated by rules and regulations. In the contest of of rule regarding, the Ghana Journalist Association has set a regulatory principles to control the activities of journalism in Ghana. 

A journalist:

•At all times upholds and defends the principles of media freedom and independence.

•Reports the truth at all times.

•Upholds the public interest and the right of the public to be informed. 

•Makes adequate enquiri-

es and cross-checks his/her facts.

•Makes and verifies the source of every information.

•Recognizes the public’s right to fair, unbiased, accurate, balanced and comprehensive information.

•Places accuracy above speed in all forms of publications.

•Differentiates between fact, opinion and commentary such that news is presented objectively without embellishments.

•Does not suppress news, information and materials on the basis of threats, inducements, and individual preferences or for personal gain. 

•Does not accept a bribe or any form of inducement to influence the performance of his/her professional duties.

•Does not take unfair personal advantage of information gained in the course of his/her duties before the information is made public.

•Does not plagiarism because it is unethical and illegal.

•Obtains information, videos, data, photographs and illustrations only by honest, straightforward, fair and open means—unless otherwise tampered by public interest considerations.

•Protects confidential sources of information.

•Corrects inaccuracies and mistakes at the earliest opportunity and offers a chance for a rejoinder and/or an apology as appropriate.

•Does not intrude into anybody’s private life, grief or distress unless justified by overriding consideration of public interest.

•Respects the individual’s rights to privacy and human dignity.

•Avoids identifying victims of sexual assault.

•Protects the rights of minors, and in criminal and other cases, secures the consent of parents or guardians before interviewing or photographing them.

•Produces no material that has the potential to lead to hatred, ridicule or discrimination on the grounds of a person’s age, education, religion, gender, ethnicity, colour, creed, legal status, disability, marital status or sexual orientation.

•Respects embargoes from news sources.

•Ensures that news headlines are fully warranted by the contents of the articles they accompany.

•Ensures that photographs and multimedia contents adequately reflect an event and do not highlight an incident out of context.

•Shows good taste, avoids vulgarity and the use of indecent language and image.

                                                                                                         by MAXWELL MENSAH-BACS22215