Prioritise Issues Affecting Children and Vulnerable Groups, Plan International Ghana Urges Journalists

Plan International Ghana has called on journalists to shift focus from sensational headlines to responsible, ethical reporting that champions the rights of children, girls, and other vulnerable populations.

Eric Ayaba, Head of Programme and Influencing at Plan International Ghana, made the appeal while addressing journalists from the Volta, Eastern, Oti, and Greater Accra regions during a three-day media training workshop in Koforidua.

Ayaba stressed that sensationalism and stereotypical reporting can undermine national development and compromise the dignity of victims. “We are here today to refine a practice that prioritises dignity over headlines, safety over clicks, and development over propaganda,” he said.

He urged media professionals to use their platforms to hold decision-makers accountable and amplify the voices of marginalised communities, highlighting the role of journalism as a catalyst for positive change.

Acknowledging the challenges journalists face when victims or sources are reluctant to share information, Ayaba said, “If a victim chooses not to speak, we must respect their decision and recognise their situation. Reporting must be ethical, timely, and sensitive.”

Plan International Ghana has engaged with media practitioners over the past three years to strengthen capacity for accurate, gender-sensitive, and protective reporting on children and vulnerable groups. Ayaba encouraged journalists to see young people and girls not as passive subjects but as active agents of change, ensuring informed consent and protection during reporting.

“Your work should be responsible, protective, and gender-sensitive,” he added. “It should go beyond the immediate story and contribute to the development of society.”

The training emphasized three core principles for journalists:

• Victim protection: Avoid judgmental language and victim-blaming in reporting.

• Development focus: Highlight stories that contribute to national development rather than sensationalism.

• Safeguarding: Uphold strict child protection and safeguarding standards in all reporting.

The workshop, themed “Journalism with Purpose: Reporting Responsibly on Children, Gender Equality, and Vulnerable Communities”, aims to equip journalists with the skills necessary for ethical, development-oriented reporting that supports vulnerable populations.

Ayaba concluded: “We aim to nurture journalists committed to truth, accountability, and the protection of communities that need it most.”