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Madam Amua Sekyi, a legal practitioner working with the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) has called on Journalists to exhibit a high level of professionalism in their line of duty.

At a media training on the law and media reportage organized by Inerela+Ghana, Madam Sekyi averred that "self-restraint in journalism is very important" and hence Journalists should not be in a rush to publish stories.

"Don't be in a rush to put out stories without crosschecking, you need to do corroboration to avoid legal consequences," she intimated.

Invitation of experts

According to her, she has studied various media discussions and realized that most invited guests are clueless about topics being discussed. 

Therefore, she urged that media houses to "look for experts to speak to topical issues and not Communicators who have no knowledge on the subject. Sometimes they speak like they know everything meanwhile it's their opinion".

Idle Way of Reporting

Madam Paulina Louisa Essel, licensed counsellor also with CHRAJ speaking on the idle ways for Journalists to report on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) said it's important for media personnel to eschew bias and treat issues equally no matter who is involved.

She was of the view that Journalists often concentrate on all the other forms of abuse except the emotional and psychological ones; adding that should change.

"The media should not only report on financial, sexual and physical abuse leaving the emotional and psychological ones, we should take it seriously because people are really going through a lot..." she added.

About Inerela+ Ghana

INERELA+ empowers Religious Leaders living with or personally affected by HIV and AIDS to be change agents in their communities which contributes to eliminating stigma and discrimination, thereby eradicating HIV.