Journalists can avoid defamation liability by ticking the right boxes - Tanko Musah
Zakaria Tanko Musah, a lawyer and lecturer at the University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMAC), reassured journalists on JoyNews' The Law on Sunday, July 7, that defamation law does not shut the door on robust reporting. He stressed that media practitioners can protect themselves from liability if they adhere to the basic standards of responsible journalism, stating, "It's not all doom and gloom. People think the journalists are almost throwing their hands in despair and saying, 'So does that mean we can't write anything at all about anybody?' No."
Mr. Musah explained that the law provides several defenses that journalists can rely on in defamation cases, provided they can show they followed the right processes before publication. He noted that courts are often mindful of the critical role journalists play in a democratic society and would take that into account when assessing defamation claims, especially where the journalist has acted responsibly and without malice. He added that if journalists have done what is expected of them professionally, including verifying facts, acting fairly, and avoiding malice, they stand a reasonable chance of successfully defending themselves if sued.
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A UniMAC lecturer, Zakaria Tanko Musah, has addressed Ghanaian journalists regarding defamation law and responsible reporting. He suggests that
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