So on August 06, Adom online (a well known Ghanaian national news media, one of the largest privately run media organizations in Ghana), shared a story about a heavily pregnant woman, US athlete Alysia Montana, claiming this person who run in the 800 metres event at the “US Nationals”, had won this race.

The story was fact checked by “Fact Checkers” and they say that is partially false. According to fact checkers, she only participated but did NOT win.

My question is:

As a national news media, can’t they check their facts before publishing?

I have always mistrusted the Ghanaian media and they always prove why I am right not to trust them.

This has happened many times with different Ghanaian news media. There have been several occasions where some of the information the Ghanaian media published were found to be fabricated, grossly exaggerated or inaccurate? It is such a shame.

These are people who talk about second and third hand information as if they were present or bore witness to whatever incident they talked about.

I am always double checking whatever I see from them and use them only to corroborate or verify elsewhere.

I wonder whether that is due to incompetence, professional misconduct, bad faith and/or corrupt practices.

As news organization, they really ought to fact check any publication or news report before bringing them out for public consumption.

Secondly, when they err or publish false or inaccurate information, they have a professional obligation to publish a correction or a retraction and to apologize to the public or their audience/readers for such inaccuracies, misinterpretation or false reports. It is a duty of service to the public.

It is the right thing to do if they want to be seen as credible.

It is a professional requirement. It is an ethical obligation. It is to build trust.

It is in good faith.

It is in the national and public interest. It is for their reputation!

Thank you!!!

Akosua G
Ontario Canada
Aug 23, 2021