The leadership of the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) has warned those who pose as journalists to desist from their activities as anyone caught in any such act will be prosecuted.
A statement issued to this effect and signed by the Administrative Officer of the GJA, Mr Fiifi Nettey, said the activities of �fake journalists� did not only tarnish the image of the country�s journalists, but were also against the ethics of the GJA.
According to the statement, the association continues to receive reports of some �fake journalists stealing electronic gadgets and other items at some public events�.
It stressed that the GJA would not allow such unscrupulous individuals to destroy the hard-earned reputation of genuine journalists, whose effort had enhanced the image of the association.
The statement indicated that it would be difficult for the GJA alone to fight this canker and called on organisers of events to do the necessary due diligence and crosscheck the background of reporters before giving them access to their programmes.
It advised organisers of programmes to demand identity cards of journalists before allowing them to cover their programmes, even when they had been invited, to help in eradicating the unprofessionals from the media terrain.
The GJA noted that the media was the fourth estate of the realm, thus it was imperative to curb this practice, and added that �all must bear in mind that these criminal and misguided actions of such characters are denting the image of our dignified profession.�
He further cautioned News Editors of the various media houses to advise their personnel to refrain from informing the "fake journalists" about scheduled assignments.
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