The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has encouraged media houses to adopt remote work systems that allow staff to work from home and ensure their safety and protection as part of measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the country.
The GJA said journalists, in the news gathering process and programming such as interviewing and discussion programmes, face greater risk of being infected by COVID-19.
The association also said the health crisis is likely to have serious consequences on media practitioners and their working conditions in newsrooms, given the closeness of contact in their workplaces.
It has, therefore, advised journalists and media practitioners to, as much as possible, adopt innovate ways of news gathering and reporting such as the use of Skype and telephone for interviewing instead of inviting panellists to the studios for interviews.
The GJA also urged media owners to acquire Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) such as gloves, bodysuit and full-face mask for use by their reporters who may be engaging infected persons or reporting from compromised sites.
In a statement, the GJA further called for the provision of running water or Veronica Buckets where necessary as well as soaps, alcohol-based hand sanitisers and other protective equipment to journalists in order to guarantee them optimal protection.
“We also encourage media houses to adopt remote work systems that allow staff to work from home and ensure their safety and protection since we are not in normal times,” the statement said.
Ghana has recorded 24 COVID-19 cases so far with one death.
Source: classfmonline.com
