By Richmond Acheampong
In an era where journalism is often reduced to clicks, ratings, and trending hashtags, it is easy to forget that at its core, the profession demands courage, integrity and a deep sense of duty. Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, the Chief Justice of Ghana, reminded a distinguished gathering at the 29th Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Awards Ceremony at Manhyia Palace that “journalism, like justice, is not a profession of comfort but one of service, sacrifice and stewardship.” These words, though succinct, carry a profound call to reflection for journalists, educators and students alike. They challenge the profession to resist the seductive allure of convenience and profitability and to reclaim its role as a guardian of truth and social accountability.
Journalism and Justice
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s assertion resonates because journalism, at its best, mirrors the demands of justice. Judges must weigh facts impartially, endure pressures from powerful interests, and act in the public’s interest even when the path is difficult. Similarly, journalists must navigate a landscape fraught with political interference, commercial pressures and ethical dilemmas.
Both fields are service-oriented: they exist not to provide comfort to their practitioners but to uphold the public good, often at personal cost. Sacrifice involves working long hours under stressful conditions, exposing uncomfortable truths, and sometimes paying a price for speaking truth to power. Stewardship emphasizes responsibility: journalists, like judges, hold societal trust, shaping public understanding and influencing civic life.
The Gap Between Principle and Practice in Ghana
Despite the resonance of this principle, journalism education and practice in Ghana reveal a troubling gap between ideal and reality. Journalism faculties often prioritize technical skills, news writing, photography, broadcast production, and social media management, while ethical training and the philosophical foundations of the profession receive insufficient emphasis.
Many curricula replicate Western models without adequately contextualizing them to the Ghanaian socio-political environment. Students emerge technically proficient but often underprepared to navigate the ethical and social complexities of reporting in a country where political polarization, misinformation, and commercial pressures are increasingly pronounced.
Realities Facing Ghanaian Journalists
This mismatch has tangible consequences. Ghanaian journalists frequently face situations where the pursuit of truth collides with financial or political interests. Media houses, particularly private ones, are heavily dependent on advertising revenue, which can compromise editorial independence. Investigative journalism, the domain where service, sacrifice and stewardship shine, is underfunded and under-prioritized.
A 2023 survey found that nearly 60% of journalists in Ghana reported self-censoring at some point due to fear of reprisal, financial loss or legal challenges. Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s words, therefore, are not just aspirational but urgent: journalism, if it is to maintain its societal relevance, must be understood and taught as a calling, not merely a career.
Implications for Journalism Education
The Chief Justice’s statement serves as a blueprint for journalism educators. It challenges faculties to prepare students not just to be content creators or social media managers but custodians of public trust.
Curriculum design must integrate ethical reasoning, civic responsibility, and critical thinking as core components alongside technical skills. Courses on media law, investigative journalism, and the sociology of media should not merely be electives but central pillars. Simulated newsroom exercises, mentorship programmes, and field attachments can instill stewardship, helping students internalize that their work serves society, sometimes at personal or professional cost.
Courage and Stewardship in Practice
The analogy between journalism and justice underscores the need for courage. True journalism requires confronting entrenched power structures, exposing corruption and amplifying marginalized voices; tasks neither comfortable nor guaranteed to yield immediate rewards.
Ghanaian journalists have examples to draw inspiration from: investigative reporters who uncovered embezzlement, media houses that challenged political excesses and community reporters who championed local development issues. Yet these examples remain exceptions because systemic support, financial, institutional and educational, is weak. Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s words are a call to action: media institutions and educational bodies must nurture a culture where service, sacrifice and stewardship are foundational.
Opportunities in Ghana’s Media Landscape
Challenges notwithstanding, there are opportunities. Digital media platforms allow investigative and civic journalism to reach broader audiences. Young journalists are increasingly tech-savvy, capable of leveraging multimedia storytelling.
If education couples technical skills with ethical grounding and a sense of public responsibility, the next generation could redefine Ghanaian journalism. Professional associations like the GJA play a key role, offering continuing education, advocating for press freedom and establishing standards that align with the Chief Justice’s vision.
Societal Context and Pressures
The broader societal context cannot be ignored. Public appreciation for quality journalism is uneven, and political and commercial actors often exert undue influence. Journalists who prioritize service and sacrifice may face professional isolation or economic hardship. Stewardship becomes both a moral and strategic imperative: credibility and trust are essential not just to serve the public but to safeguard the profession’s integrity.
Conclusion
Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie’s words are more than ceremonial praise; they are a challenge and a guidepost. By asserting that journalism is not a profession of comfort but one of service, sacrifice, and stewardship, he illuminates the ethical and professional heights the field should aspire to.
For journalism educators, this is a roadmap: curricula must produce not just competent practitioners but ethically grounded custodians of public trust. For media institutions, it signals the need to support courageous reporting. And for journalists themselves, it is a reminder that the profession demands resilience, courage and unwavering commitment to society. Ghanaian journalism stands at a crossroads: it can succumb to convenience and commercial pressures or embrace the demanding yet rewarding path of service, sacrifice and stewardship. Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s words leave no ambiguity about the choice the profession must make.
The writer is a journalist, journalism educator and member of GJA, IRE and AJEN.
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