Dr Kofi Amoah and the management of Citizen Kofi invite you to the maiden edition of a ground breaking and thought-provoking Citizen Kofi Media Dialogue Series which kicks off on Friday January 28, 2011.
Theme: Can the Ghanaian Media do Better?
Venue: Hollywood Lounge, Citizen Kofi, Osu
Time: 6.00 pm to 8.00pm
Welcome: Dr Kofi Amoah - 5 min
Opening Remarks: Professor Kwame Karikari – 5 min
Speakers: Dr Audrey Gadzekpo, Franklin Cudjoe - 10 min each
General Discussions – 80 min
Closing Remarks: Ransford Tetteh, Ambassador Kabral Blay-Amihere – 5 min each
Moderator: Professor Kwame Karikari
BACKGROUND
The Citizen Kofi Media Dialogue Series will be monthly soirees for journalists to review the performance of journalists. It will take place on the last Friday of every month. It is our expectation that through this platform, our cross examination of our performances, individually and collectively, would result in better output for our national development.
Ultimately, the role of journalists in any democratic society is to contribute to build that society as a better place to live in. In Ghana’s pursuance of this role, firm guarantees of protection are granted in art 21 (1) (a) and art 162 of the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana, 1992. It is worth acknowledging however that the written or spoken words of a journalist can also spell doom for any society.
According to “Elements of journalism” by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel, the top elements of journalism are the following:
1. Journalism’s first obligation is the truth
2. Its first loyalty is to the citizens
3. Its essence is the discipline of verification
4. Its practitioners must maintain an independence from those they cover
5. It must serve as an independent monitor of power
In a speech to editors and publishers in 1869, Joseph Medill of the Chicago Tribune urged thus; “preserve your independence of all demagogues and place-hunters and never submit to their dictation; write boldly and tell the truth fearlessly; criticize whatever is wrong…” and in the words of Joseph Pulitzer concerning how journalist should report the news “put it before them (the people) briefly so they will read it, clearly so they will appreciate it, picturesquely so they will remember it and, above all, accurately so they will be guided by its light”
The question therefore is: HAVE WE IN THE GHANAIAN MEDIA MATCHED THESE STANDARDS?
Sponsored by Citizen Kofi
Supported by Media Foundation for West Africa – National Media Commission – GJA – GIBA – PRINPAG - World Bank Ghana Office
RSVP Sammy Bartels: 024 292 0246 - fifibartels@yahoo.com