Journalists urged to be thorough, diligent in their reportage

The Managing Editor of the Searchlight Newspaper, Kenneth Agyei Kuranchie, has admonished Journalists in the country to be diligent and thorough in the discharge of their duties.

According to the veteran journalist, colleagues in the profession need to do more in generating stories devoid of partisan interests.

According to him, to bring about development, the practice of journalism should go beyond reportage of mere words by politicians to human interest stories as well as other sectors of the economy.

“Those of us in the NPP believe in Capitalism and our brothers on the other side believe in social democracy. But ask yourself, do the people in Tumu understand these concepts? It is the duty of the journalist to explain these to them so the people can make informed decisions and ask relevant questions,” he said.

He added that a number of journalists in the country today do very little in playing the ‘watch-dog’ role expected of them.

“In my capacity as a Managing Editor, I edit 20-30 stories a day and I must say a lot of the fresh students that come into the newsroom, need a lot of work done on them”

“When you listen to radio, watch television or read the newspapers and even the online portals, it has become all too clear that Ghanaians and Africans therefore require a stronger, more independent and aware press that is focused on issues of development of the people across sectors,” he said.

Speaking at the launch of his third book titled ‘Principles of Applied and Practical Journalism’, Ken Kuranchie said, the book will help bridge the much talked about gap between learning/teaching and practical journalism in Ghana.

The ‘Principles of Applied and Practical Journalism’ book has 28 chapters and each is dedicated to one specific aspect of the practice of journalism.