Online journalists advised on the need for accuracy against speed
Online journalists have been advised to take into account the need for accuracy against speed in reporting news.
Speaking at the launch of the website newsghana.com.gh on Wednesday, veteran journalist and President of the Ghana Association of Writers, Kwasi Gyan Apenteng highlighted the need for integrity and accuracy over speed in online journalism in Ghana, as people make decisions based on news.
“The selling point of online media is speed, continuous correction and continuous addition, but none of that will matter if it is inaccurate”, he said.
He said the proliferation of media houses will result in a “Darwinian struggle for survival” in the next five years, in which fitness will be determined by quality as many fall along the way.
The news website, spyghana.com has been rebranded and re-launched as www.newsghana.com.gh.
Corporate communications officers of some sponsoring companies including Vivo Energy, Yak-dan Shipping Company and telecommunications companies Tigo and MTN, expressed optimism in the rebranding of Spy Ghana and re-echoed the call for integrity and factual accuracy.
Mr Lloyd Evans, President of the Institute of Financial and Economic Journalists (IFEJ) also encouraged integrity and cautioned that the misuse of social media could hamper Ghana and Africa’s chances of making the most of the internet and communications revolution.
He cautioned Ghanaian journalists to be wary of professing to be experts instead of consulting the real experts, citing for instance that reportage on telecommunications in East African countries was way better than in Ghana.
By Emmanuel Odonkor