2016 Elections and the role of journalist

A journalist is a person who’s work is to gather, package and disseminate information either in an audio/video or text form through a medium usually mass medium to the general public or audience.

The journalist has an important role to play during elections, and this involves telling the truth where the facts are involved. The journalist play an essential role of ensuring that information vital to the existence, survival and development of constituents of societies is availed to the people in a timely, equitable, and fair and balance so the people can make the right choice. Thus when constituents must elect their representatives, the media and journalist are challenged to provide the people with all information needed so to make informed choice.

One of the major roles of journalist is the watchdog role which involves mediating between government and the public, by questioning actions and policies of government and reporting or monitoring new policy and law enactment precedence. During elections the media play this role when they expose the errors of commission or omission by those in power in their pursuit to cling to power at all cost so the citizens are well informed. Journalist also expose schemes to disadvantage those outside the corridors of power and go ahead to expose manipulation of citizens through the distribution of bribes and other illegal activities during campaign periods.

The journalist also plays the role of voter education during election by alerting electorate on electoral malpractices and processes so that they rectify and balance their knowledge base so not to find themselves in trouble. This they also do by explaining in simple terms specific legal and administrative issues which can be seen to be fundamental for any election to be free and fair.

Journalist should try to focus on the issues, by talking to ordinary people, particularly those lacking a strong voice in society for instance the elderly and the young, women, the poor and religious minorities.

Peace building and conflict resolution is a due responsibility of a journalist during election. The journalist can fun violence and conflict if his works are not properly managed. For the past two decades or so when Ghana become a democratic state {1992} and started conducting elections, journalist has played an inevitable role in ensuring a free and fair election and 2016 is no different and this cannot be undermined.