Avoid use of Proverbs and metaphors in reports

THE President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Mr Ransford Tetteh, has appealed to journalists who report in the local languages, especially for radio and the newspapers, to avoid the use of proverbs and metaphors that often tend to distort and prejudice their messages.
He urged them to be direct and factual because the excessive use of proverbs and metaphors in their reports made the reports opinionated, exaggerated and provocative.
Mr Tetteh, who was briefing some members of the media in Accra yesterday on the GJA's preparations towards the 13th GJA Awards and the sponsorship packages offered by some organisations, said that style of reporting could be a potential for conflict in an election year.
He implored all journalists working in the media to go about their duties with great circumspection and impartiality.
"In informing, educating and entertaining the people, the media must strive to maintain the needed balance that enables all to undertake fair and qualitative coverage to ensure that credible and peaceful elections are attained at all cost," he stated.
He urged all media practitioners to see that as a responsibility and a duty to ensure that violence did not become part of the electoral process.
He stressed that it had been an additional workload for the GJA to organise the event in an election year but said the executives had not relented in their efforts to organise it and take advantage of that platform to create the necessary awareness of the need for free, fair, transparent and peaceful elections in December.
"We have, therefore, linked the event to the elections as a sign of our commitment to credible elections in December," he added, indicating that the theme for this year's awards, "Using the Media to Promote National Unity and Stability in an Election Year", was to remind the media of their crucial role to help in ensuring credible and peaceful elections.
"It is our hope that the theme will remind us constantly of the need to be rigidly professional in our work throughout the period of political campaigns, polling and even after the elections," he noted.
This year's awards will be used to acknowledge individuals, media houses and organisations that have in one way or another contributed significantly to the development of the Ghanaian media.
In recognition of the media's excellent contributions towards the country's democratic dispensation, Mr Tetteh announced that this year’s awards would be witnessed by the Togolese Minister for Information and Culture and possibly the Secretary-General of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the world's biggest journalists federation of which GJA is a member.
"There will also be guests representing the journalists unions of Togo, Cote d'Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of Congo," he indicated, and stated that the GJA Awards Committee, under the chairmanship of Mr Berifi Apenteng, a media consultant and former Managing Director of the Graphic Communications Group Limited, had completed its work and would soon present its report to the national executive for approval.
Four corporate organisations — Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB), Zoomlion Ghana Limited (ZGL), Accra Brewery Limited (ABL) and Voltic Ghana Limited (VGL) — announced their sponsorship packages for the winners of various awards for their excellent contributions towards the development of journalism in Ghana.
The Managing Director of GCB, Mr Lawrence Adu-Mante, said the bank was happy to be part of the preparation towards the awards ceremony.
He said to further deepen the bank’s relationship with GJA and help to enhance the practice of journalism in the country, GCB was sponsoring this year's Investigative Journalism Award with a cheque for GH¢2,500.
Mr Adu-Mante appealed to all media practitioners to remain objective, factual and fair in their reportage on the elections, as Ghanaians would be counting on their professionalism to ensure stability in the country.
"This year is a critical year in the country's development because of the December elections and we the people of Ghana would want to count on you to play your professional roles to ensure peace and stability in this country," he urged journalists, while commending the GJA for consistently providing a platform for the recognition of outstanding performances in journalism.
The Communications Manager of Zoomlion, Mrs Isabella Gyau Orhin, said the company was pleased to lend its support to rewarding journalists for their exceptional contributions to the country.
She said Zoomlion was supporting the association with a sponsorship package worth GH¢2,500 for the winner of the features awards on environment.
The Corporate Affairs Manager of ABL, Ms N. Adjoba Kyiamah, who announced her organisation's GH¢2,500 sponsorship package for the winner of the Human Rights Award, said the gesture was in line with her organisation's commitment to the rights of individuals.
She pointed out that " in a country that has a viable media, businesses also thrive".
The General Secretary of the GJA, Mr Bright Blewu, said this year's award winners would be presented with plaques, certificates and laptops to encourage them to work harder and improve their skills.