Media researcher condemns alleged assault on journalists, but emphasises journalism with self-censorship

Ghanaian media researcher based in Norway, has waded into the public controversy surrounding the alleged humiliation of two journalists of Accra-based citi fm, with a call on Ghanaian media practitioners to value self-censorship while daily enjoying Press Freedom.
Mr Joseph Kyei-Boateng, observed that, globally, abuse against journalists was a decadence to media practice that many media scholars, media associations, violence-based media organisations around the world frown upon.
He named Paris-based, Reporters Without Borders (Rapporteurs Sans Frontiers, RSF) as one vibrant global media organisation that is concerned about violence against journalists around the world as example to buttress his point.
Speaking to ghanacrimereport.com in interview, he was of the view that there was the need to emphasise that media practitioners in the African sub-region, particularly, Ghana in West Africa, exercised self-censorship in their daily professional duties.
However, he cautioned that it would be dangerous for journalists to hide under the name of Press Freedom or Free Press to disrespect state protocol or state authority, and called on the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association (GIBA) and media stakeholders to speak against such posture https://citinewsroom.com/2021/05/national-security-must-apologize-to-citi-fm-over-invasion-and-assault-giba-prinpag-gja/.
Alleged assault on citi journosNarrowing to the controversy surrounding the arrest of the 2 citi fm journalists, Mr Kyei-Boateng said it was not proper for the public or any interested person condemn national security operatives for mishandling or assaulting the two https://www.myjoyonline.com/national-security-ministry-to-probe-alleged-assault-on-citi-fm-journalists-by-security-operatives/.
That to him was because so far, it is not clear whether the journalists at the centre of the controversy were assaulted or not by the personnel from the National Security Ministry who invaded the premises of the citi fm.
He condemned the invasion in any form as threat to press freedom and added, should it become clear after investigations that the journalists were assaulted before they arrested for interrogation, then the assault should be equally condemned in no time.
Genre of Journalism is importantMr Kyei-Boateng, explained Journalism was broad and that there were different genres of journalism practice, naming Investigative Journalism, Development Journalism, Peace Journalism, Protocol Journalism, as example to advise Ghanaian media practitioners censor themselves before embarking on any journalistic journey.
Specifically to the issue of, one citi fm journalist who filmed a prohibited security zone area to expose socalled rotten vehicles in “national interest”, he said that was quite problematic and professional challenge.
He explained that if the citi reporter (Caleb Kudah) who filmed the security zone area was doing investigative journalistic work, then such reporter could have done this in many acceptable professional ways that could have prevented such ordeal as alleged assault, even though it is important to bear in mind the challenges in investigative journalism including death, assault, and other dangers in many forms.
That notwithstanding, the media researcher cautioned that in as much as journalists are ignited to expose the rots in society, they should also be mindful that they seek development for the same society, hence the need not to engage in acts that would seek to undermine national security of their country https://www.peacefmonline.com/pages/videos/202105/42837.php
“National Security is not a joke in many countries which Ghana as a developing country could learn a lot lessons from. And that journalists are also part of the internal and external forces who could either work to improve national security or bring it down. This is where many journalists need to exercise a lot self-censorship in their daily professional duties while applying ethical frameworks in order not to do things that could be seen as undermining the national security of their country”, he cautioned.
By News Desk Report