By Rachel Kakraba
Country Director, Reporters without Borders (RSF), Zubaida Ismail, has urged journalists covering December 7 elections to look out for their safety in all situations.
She emphasised that no story is worth the life of journalists whose main duty is to inform the public, highlighting the importance of prioritising personal safety during field reporting.
She reminded journalists to respect boundaries and minimise trespassing during reporting to avoid unnecessary risks and potential attacks.
“Live to tell the story, don’t be the story. Be safe out there. Take instruction; the police are telling you, Don’t stand here, and you say, Because I’m a journalist, I have to report; I’m doing my work. Remember the police officer is also doing his or her work, and so let’s give them the respect.”
Madam Ismail was speaking to GBC NEWS during a two-day capacity-building workshop for some selected journalists in Aburi, in the Eastern Region. It was organised by Reporters Without Borders, RSF an international non-profit, non-governmental organisation that promotes and defends freedom of information and freedom of the press.
It was on the theme “the role of journalists/media in a credible election”.
Participants included reporters, editors, senior editors, programme hosts/presenters and channel managers, among others.
Madam Ismail encouraged journalists who feel threatened in the course of their work not to hesitate to call for assistance from her office.
“If you are out there and you feel unsafe and you think you need help, just get in touch. Let’s see how we can get you out of that. It doesn’t mean we are taking the police job.
Madam Ismail, while urging media houses not to be intimidated in projecting election results, further asked that all such data be verified to prevent any misinformation and disinformation, which could have life-threatening consequences.
“You have to verify all the documents that have come to your headquarters before you do your projection. It’s better because if you don’t, you get yourself into trouble as an individual.”
News anchor and Head of political desk of the Media General Group, Alfred Ocansey, who facilitated a session on reporting elections, the perspective of a presenter, said hosting election-related programmes is a departure from the routine programme hosting and asked programme hosts to have some personal verification mechanisms to prevent disseminating misinformation and disinformation.
He said hosts should always value accuracy over speed because a mistake with election projection has long-term effects on a presenter’s image and credibility.
Topics covered during the two-day workshop included gatekeeping and the GJA Guidelines on Elections Reporting, elections and Safety of Journalists and making the most of elections reporting.
Others were elections reporting: journalists toolkits, fact-checking electoral claims and images, as well as reporting elections and the perspective of a presenter.
Beneficiaries renewed their commitment to promoting decorum on their media platforms. They also pledged to share knowledge acquired with colleagues back in their media outlets.
