Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr, has urged journalists to strengthen their credibility and uphold professional standards as digital technology and artificial intelligence reshape the media landscape.
Mr Pratt said the rapid spread of information online has made it increasingly important for journalists to help the public distinguish truth from falsehood through accurate, responsible and credible reporting.
He made the call at the 77th Anniversary Symposium of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) in Accra, held under the theme: “GJA@77: Building On Our Legacy, Advancing Ethical Journalism and Shaping the Future of Digital Media.”
Trust must be earned
According to Mr Pratt, public trust cannot be built simply by reminding people that journalists are professionals.
He said trust is earned when journalists verify information before publication, distinguish evidence from allegations, investigate people in positions of power and give ordinary citizens a voice.
He cautioned journalists against publishing unverified claims simply because such stories are likely to attract attention or generate high engagement.
Technology must not replace judgement
Mr Pratt also stressed that technology and artificial intelligence should serve as tools to support journalism rather than replace the professional judgement of journalists.
As social media and AI make it easier for information—and misinformation—to spread rapidly, he said journalists have an even greater responsibility to verify what they publish.
He further argued that freedom of expression should be treated not only as a right but also as a responsibility to pursue the truth.
For Ghana’s media industry, his message comes at a time when speed, digital competition and the demand for online engagement are increasingly influencing how news is produced and consumed.
The challenge, therefore, is for journalists to embrace new technology without sacrificing the principles that give journalism its value: accuracy, independence, verification and public interest.
Source: Ghana News Agency
