Address by Nana Konadu Agyeman Rawlings
Event: Radio and TV Personality Awards,
Saturday, June 25th, 2011
Ladies and gentlemen of the press, distinguished radio and TV personalities, special guests,
It is my great honour and pleasure to take part in recognizing the great men and women of Ghana’s Radio and Television industry on this special occasion.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the press, as I stand here before you, I’d like to impress upon you the importance of the role you play in shaping our society. Through your reporting, you mold young minds of future generations and challenge the intellect of older ones. As Radio and Television presenters, you are our nation’s primary source of information, entertainment and education. I, therefore, urge you to be role models in your profession and to allow professional integrity to be the cornerstone of your great industry and your personal credibility. As you continue on your journeys of excellence, I urge you to raise the bar by upholding the tenets of professional reporting.
This means:
1. Strive to be honest, fair and courageous (OR, as I like to say, BE BOLD) in the gathering and reporting of accurate and well-researched information.
2. Be Accountable: While freedom of the press is very much a valued part of our society, we must never forget that it comes with a great deal of responsibility. So be accountable to your readers, listeners, viewers and to each other.
3. Finally: Act Independently: Again, BE BOLD, and strive for excellence, serve the public with thoroughness and honesty, free of obligation to any interest other than the public’s right to know the truth.
Ladies and Gentlemen of the press, I congratulate all deserving winners and nominees for your attainment of success and I encourage you to be unwavering in your pursuit of truth, honesty and professional integrity.
Thank you.
Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings 