The Ghana Police Service has held a day training workshop for some selected journalists on crime reporting and elections in the Ashanti region.
The workshop which had about 20 journalists from the print and broadcast media, as well as online portals, was aimed at building the capacity of journalists on crime reporting and policing.
It is also intended to establish specialised desks at the various media houses to improve the quality of crime reporting and policing and also to strengthen the partnership between the police and the media.
At the event ,Deputy Ashanti Regional Police Commander, ACP David Agyemang Adjem who spoke about the policies of the police service on the Media and public engagement said the workshop is being organised pursuant to the communication and public education strategy of the police service to strengthen capacity of journalists to accurately report on crime and policing.
He said Reporting on crime and policing is a specialised area within the media landscape which requires adequate knowledge, orientation and capacity.
“Accurate reporting on crime and policing effectively supports the efforts of the police and harmonizes their work with other criminal justice actors.”
He said that over the years, the relationship between the police and the media in the Ashanti region has been excellent accept for a few misunderstanding of which they try to resolve.
According to him,turf war between the media and the police affects objective reportage on crime and policing and further worsens relationships between the two organizations.
He revealed that when that exist , the positive works of the police is normally overshadowed by bad press which invariably dents its corporate image and fuels tension between the police and the media.
ASP Mr.Francis Nimoh, Commander ,DLEU/Ashanti ,who spoke about the safety of journalists urged journalists to take their negotiation skills serious.
According to him, it is imperative for journalists to think about their safety first before thinking about breaking the news.
He said ,reporters should not lose their lives because they want to be the first to break the news.
“Where there is security problem, always cooperate with the police since they know best.”
Other facilitators for the workshop included ACP Mr.Kwaku Buah,Divisional Commander,Manhyia,ASP Mr.Godwin Ahyianyo(PRO),Mr.Benjamin Bano Bioh, Ashanti regional Director,EC , among others.
Source: Ayisah Foster, Broadcastergh.com
