Accra: Media personality and entertainment critic Halifax Ansah-Addo has expressed his opinion that those facing financial hardships should not pursue careers in journalism. He believes that the financial struggles commonly faced by journalists can compromise their ability to remain independent and unbiased in their reporting.
According to Ghana Web, Halifax shared his views during a discussion on Okay FM, where he highlighted the issue of low compensation for journalists in Ghana. He pointed out that many journalists are either underpaid or not paid at all, making them vulnerable to financial inducements from politicians and other influential figures. This vulnerability can lead to a situation where journalists are swayed by payments known as 'soli', which can impact the integrity of their work.
Halifax emphasized that if it were up to him, individuals without financial stability should not enter the journalism profession. He argued that financial constraints can significantly impact a journalist's ability to produce unbiased content. "Left to me alone, no poor person should become a journalist. Many journalists are financially constrained, and our salaries are not good. 'Soli' will influence what you write," he stated.
He further noted that while some journalists claim that their conscience and professional ethics prevent them from compromising their principles, prolonged financial difficulties could erode these defenses. Halifax illustrated that witnessing peers acquiring assets such as land and vehicles could pressure financially struggling journalists to prioritize their financial well-being over ethical standards. "You will say conscience, ethics, but it does not work. When you are hungry and you are seeing your colleagues buying land, buying cars, building houses, and you say you want to write the right things, it will get to a time you." he explained.