Journalists Urged to Prioritize Safety During 2024 Election Coverage.

TEMA: Journalists scheduled to cover the 2024 general elections on Saturday have been advised to take their security seriously in order not to end up as casualties. Mr. Godfred Blay Gibbah, the General Secretary of the Ghana Photojournalists Network and a retired journalist, emphasized the importance of prioritizing personal safety while collecting information and images.According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Gibbah provided this advice at an election workshop for journalists from the Ghana News Agency (GNA) Tema Office. He stressed the importance of remaining smart and cautious, reminding journalists that their lives are paramount and that they must be alive to report the stories from polling centres.Mr. Gibbah advised journalists to wear appropriate attire and always carry their accreditation tags for proper identification. He noted that being easily identifiable facilitates building rapport with polling centre officials who can provide necessary information. Failure to properly introduce oneself to presid ing officers, he warned, could lead to confrontations.He also offered practical tips for capturing the best images at polling centres, urging journalists to have their cameras ready, take pictures quickly, and return to safety. Mr. Gibbah advised media personnel to stay near security personnel and photograph from the fringes in chaotic or volatile environments, emphasizing the need for constant vigilance to avoid becoming victims during the elections.Furthermore, he reminded journalists to arrive at their designated centres promptly to document events from the beginning of the elections, rather than relying on second-hand accounts.