Parliamentary Press Must Uphold Ethics, Verify AI Content – Dean
The Dean of the Parliamentary Press Corps (PPC), Mr Simon Agianab, has urged journalists covering Parliament to uphold professional ethics, verify information generated by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and strengthen their understanding of constitutional provisions and parliamentary procedures.
He said parliamentary journalism requires more than reporting speeches, political disagreements, and activities within the House, stressing that journalists must have the constitutional knowledge, professional competence, and integrity needed to keep the public accurately informed about parliamentary decisions.
Mr Agianab made the call at a capacity-building workshop for members of the Parliamentary Press Corps in Accra on Thursday, October 15, 2026.
“Parliamentary journalism goes beyond reporting speeches and political disagreements; it requires constitutional knowledge, professional competence, accuracy and a commitment to keeping the public informed about decisions that affect their lives,” he said.
He underscored the importance of understanding parliamentary privileges and immunities under Articles 115 and 116 of the 1992 Constitution, which protect freedom of speech and debate in parliamentary proceedings and safeguard MPs in the performance of their constitutional duties.
He said journalists must report parliamentary proceedings fairly and accurately, distinguishing statements made in Parliament from independently verified facts.
He cautioned that the constitutional protections afforded to parliamentary proceedings did not automatically exempt every publication outside Parliament from applicable legal and ethical obligations.
Mr Agianab also called on parliamentary correspondents to deepen their understanding of parliamentary procedures and institutional rules to ensure accurate reporting of legislative business.
He said journalists must be able to distinguish bills from Acts of Parliament, committee recommendations from decisions of the House, and political claims from verified facts.
On the growing use of Artificial Intelligence in journalism, the PPC Dean acknowledged that emerging technologies offered significant opportunities to improve parliamentary reporting.
He noted that AI tools could assist journalists in transcribing debates, summarising lengthy reports, analysing budgets and researching legislation.
However, he cautioned that such tools should complement, rather than replace, professional judgement and editorial responsibility.
“Journalists must verify AI-generated information against reliable sources, protect confidential information and avoid publishing fabricated quotations or misleading content,” he stressed.
Mr Agianab further warned that financial pressures, inadequate remuneration and competition for audiences should not become excuses for unethical journalistic practices.
He said bribery, sensationalism, misinformation and compromised editorial independence undermined the credibility of the media and weakened public trust.
He called on media organisations to provide fair working conditions for journalists and protect them from improper commercial and political influence.
The Dean also urged parliamentary journalists to take advantage of the Right to Information Act, 2019 (Act 989), to obtain relevant public records and strengthen investigative and evidence-based reporting.
He said the law provided an important framework for accessing information held by public institutions and other bodies covered by its provisions, subject to applicable exemptions and procedures.
Journalists, he noted, should understand how to submit information requests and pursue the appropriate review or appeal procedures when access to information was denied.
Mr Agianab further encouraged parliamentary correspondents to familiarise themselves with the Standing Orders of Parliament, legislative procedures, committee work, motions, amendments and voting processes, as well as the respective responsibilities of the Speaker and parliamentary leadership.
He added that journalists must comply with applicable accreditation and access requirements while maintaining their independence to scrutinise parliamentary activities.
Mr Agianab said the effectiveness of parliamentary journalism depended on constitutional awareness, professional discipline, ethical integrity, technological competence and access to reliable information.
“Journalists must be courageous enough to question authority, independent enough to resist improper inducements and knowledgeable enough to explain parliamentary decisions accurately,” he said.
He also urged Parliament to recognise the media’s legitimate role in promoting transparency and accountability, emphasising the need for continuous professional development among parliamentary correspondents.
“Parliament, in turn, should recognise the media’s legitimate role in promoting transparency and accountability,” he added.
Mr Agianab said the credibility of parliamentary journalism depended not only on the information journalists obtained but also on the integrity with which they verified, interpreted and communicated it to the public.
He called on participants to use the workshop to renew their commitment to responsible reporting, professional development and journalism that serves the public interest.
Source: Felix Nyaaba/expressnewsghana.com
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