SECTOR 4 The need to “focus on getting it right, and not on getting it first” is critical. Media houses compete in trying to cover breaking news, and some will publish an incomplete story, and say “more soon”, simply to get the news out first, but don’t always follow up. Some of the well-established media entities ensure that a certain chain is followed before they publish. “If it happens to be inaccurate, they will find this along that chain.” Journalists appear to be unfamiliar with a media code of ethics, and some panellists noted concern with “loose entry points” into the journalistic profession. “Anybody can enter!” The majority of journalists are untrained, the amount of training once they enter media houses is limited, and few media houses insist on hiring professionals. A notable example was that of a media owner, who went to a funeral, and offered a job to someone there based solely on his linguistic and oratory prowess in the local language of the area as a Master of Ceremony. One panellist recounted the experience of going to an FM station, and finding a group of young people who had just finished secondary school hosting the morning show. “This is the picture in many areas, including Accra. Many media houses go for cheap labour, and many pay them peanuts. In the worst case scenario, they are not trained at all.” Accuracy is a challenge in the media, and some panellists felt that the level of accuracy often “depends on who is writing it, who it’s about, and the intention behind it. If malice is intended, the harm is already done.” Good journalists who do well and write in a fair and accurate manner are often “snapped up by nonmedia professions”. Sensationalism – particularly on local language stations –appears to be the order of the day in some media entities and with this comes an insensitivity to reporting on issues such as rape or defilement3. “For example, if someone has been defiled, they will try to tell you how old the victim is, and the physical stature of the man. And they will try to describe the action, even in language that English radio is not permitted to use. You won’t find this in the print media, especially in mainstream papers, and you won’t find it on TV.” Some media houses have also resorted to writing teasers for stories, “just to irk people”. There is a high level of insensitivity in reporting on gender issues, or crimes against women. For example, in reporting on rape, the woman is blamed. A deep analysis of issues is seldom done. Public trust in the media is waning, and there is not always an automatic sense of belief in the stories being published or broadcast. 3 Defilement’ refers to statutory rape, and in some country laws (e.g. Uganda), is defined as “the act of having sex with a girl under 18, while rape is having sex with a woman without her consent, usually by force.” In Ghana, the stated age of consent is 16yrs. During the discussion, defilement and rape were referred to separately, as noted above. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER GHANA 2013 55