Managing Ethical Dilemmas under Stressful Economic Circumstances among Journalists in Northern Ghana
This article explores the management of ethical dilemmas in stressful economic circumstances among journalists in the three Northern Regions of Ghana. It analyses the experiences of journalists during difficult ethical moments. In-depth interviews were conducted with a total of 30 working journalist...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Athens Institute for Education and Research
2020-07-01
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| Series: | Athens Journal of Mass Media and Communications |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.athensjournals.gr/media/2019-5-3-3-Alhassan.pdf |
| _version_ | 1818873358573371392 |
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| author | Amin Alhassan Muhammed Abdulai |
| author_facet | Amin Alhassan Muhammed Abdulai |
| author_sort | Amin Alhassan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article explores the management of ethical dilemmas in stressful economic circumstances among journalists in the three Northern Regions of Ghana. It analyses the experiences of journalists during difficult ethical moments. In-depth interviews were conducted with a total of 30 working journalists, drawing 10 from each of the three northern regions. These are the Upper West, Upper East and Northern Regions. The study revealed that in practice, rather than working with the normative ethical framework defined by the codes of ethics of the Ghana Journalists Association, journalists are influenced by context-based pragmatism and their conduct is very much influenced by economic realities of satisfying basic needs. Again, the study revealed that most Ghanaian journalists understand the idealism of ethical norms and are very much aware of the GJA code of ethics, but see the practicability of the code as problematic. We recommend that the GJA increases its advocacy role on improving the working conditions of its members. It should also facilitate continuous professional development programs on media ethics in the changing media landscape. Improved working conditions and continuous professional development programs can assist its members in managing ethical dilemmas in stressful economic and social circumstances. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T12:53:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ec5e8e52f5ef487290d0fd3a24c29761 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2407-9499 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T12:53:26Z |
| publishDate | 2020-07-01 |
| publisher | Athens Institute for Education and Research |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Athens Journal of Mass Media and Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-ec5e8e52f5ef487290d0fd3a24c297612022-12-21T20:20:28ZengAthens Institute for Education and ResearchAthens Journal of Mass Media and Communications2407-94992020-07-015319321210.30958/ajmmc.5-3-3Managing Ethical Dilemmas under Stressful Economic Circumstances among Journalists in Northern GhanaAmin Alhassan0Muhammed Abdulai1Associate Professor of Communication, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana PhD Candidate, School of Governance, Law and Society, Tallinn University, Estonia and Lecturer, University for Development Studies, Tamale, GhanaThis article explores the management of ethical dilemmas in stressful economic circumstances among journalists in the three Northern Regions of Ghana. It analyses the experiences of journalists during difficult ethical moments. In-depth interviews were conducted with a total of 30 working journalists, drawing 10 from each of the three northern regions. These are the Upper West, Upper East and Northern Regions. The study revealed that in practice, rather than working with the normative ethical framework defined by the codes of ethics of the Ghana Journalists Association, journalists are influenced by context-based pragmatism and their conduct is very much influenced by economic realities of satisfying basic needs. Again, the study revealed that most Ghanaian journalists understand the idealism of ethical norms and are very much aware of the GJA code of ethics, but see the practicability of the code as problematic. We recommend that the GJA increases its advocacy role on improving the working conditions of its members. It should also facilitate continuous professional development programs on media ethics in the changing media landscape. Improved working conditions and continuous professional development programs can assist its members in managing ethical dilemmas in stressful economic and social circumstances.https://www.athensjournals.gr/media/2019-5-3-3-Alhassan.pdfethical dilemmasethicsghanajournalismstressful economic circumstances |
| spellingShingle | Amin Alhassan Muhammed Abdulai Managing Ethical Dilemmas under Stressful Economic Circumstances among Journalists in Northern Ghana Athens Journal of Mass Media and Communications ethical dilemmas ethics ghana journalism stressful economic circumstances |
| title | Managing Ethical Dilemmas under Stressful Economic Circumstances among Journalists in Northern Ghana |
| title_full | Managing Ethical Dilemmas under Stressful Economic Circumstances among Journalists in Northern Ghana |
| title_fullStr | Managing Ethical Dilemmas under Stressful Economic Circumstances among Journalists in Northern Ghana |
| title_full_unstemmed | Managing Ethical Dilemmas under Stressful Economic Circumstances among Journalists in Northern Ghana |
| title_short | Managing Ethical Dilemmas under Stressful Economic Circumstances among Journalists in Northern Ghana |
| title_sort | managing ethical dilemmas under stressful economic circumstances among journalists in northern ghana |
| topic | ethical dilemmas ethics ghana journalism stressful economic circumstances |
| url | https://www.athensjournals.gr/media/2019-5-3-3-Alhassan.pdf |
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