‎’Journalism is a noble profession’ – PRINPAG President urges media to defend the profession 

‎The President of the Private Newspapers and Online News Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG), David Sitsofe Tamakloe, has urged journalists to defend the integrity and honour of the journalism profession, stressing the critical role of the media in democracy and national development.
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‎Speaking at the PRINPAG Capacity-Building Workshop on “Responsible Security Reporting” at Platinum Bay Hotel, Abokobi, Accra, the Tamakloe said, journalists must remain committed to accuracy, responsibility, professionalism and ethical reporting.
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‎The workshop, organised in collaboration with the National Security Council Secretariat under the theme “Media as a Strategic Partner in National Security,” brings together media practitioners and security stakeholders to strengthen responsible reporting on security-related issues.
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‎The PRINPAG President described journalism as a profession with a long-standing role in shaping society and defending democratic values.
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‎“Journalism is a noble profession that has shaped humanity for centuries. It has exposed tyranny, championed the oppressed, and chronicled the triumphs of the human spirit,” the President said.
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‎The President said the profession should not be undermined because of disagreements within society or the financial difficulties confronting media organisations.
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‎“We must not throw this profession under the bus simply because we have grown intolerant of divergent views or, worse, because we are unwilling to finance its growth,” the President said.
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‎The President also invoked the words of philosopher George Santayana to stress the importance of journalism in preserving society’s history.
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‎“As the great American philosopher George Santayana warned, ‘Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.’ If we abandon journalism, we abandon memory itself,” the President said.
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‎The President further called on journalists to make integrity central to their work, particularly when reporting on sensitive security matters.
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‎“As journalists and media practitioners, we must use our integrity to defend the journalism profession,” the President said.
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‎The President urged practitioners to uphold professional standards and put the national interest ahead of narrow interests.
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‎“We must uphold standards, value our culture and our shared humanity, and always prioritize our nation’s interest above narrow agendas,” the President said.
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‎The President also reminded journalists that the power of the media comes with a responsibility to use that power carefully.
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‎“Let us also remember the timeless wisdom: ‘The pen is mightier than the sword.’ But a pen without ink is useless. Let us provide the ink through funding, through regulation, and through partnership,” the President said.
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‎The President encouraged media practitioners to maintain accuracy, responsibility, professionalism and conflict-sensitive journalism, particularly in their coverage of security-related matters.
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‎The President said the participants at the workshop should return to their colleagues as ambassadors of the knowledge gained during the training.