The Board Chairman of the Graphic Groups of Communications Limited has said he believes there is a high display of professionalism in the public media houses compared to the private-owned media houses.

Professor Kwame Karikari speaking at the 'MTN Bright Conversations' said professionalism must be adequately influenced and supplemented with critical journalism.

The event was dubbed ‘Promoting Professionalism in the Era of Social Media & Citizen Journalism.”

He noted that professionalism is key in pushing the country's democracy.

The academic also noted that the media in the country has done a good job in helping mobilise the society on the do's and don’ts, but this, he said, is not enough.

"The media must help the society to decipher the right from the wrong," he said.

Prof Karikari said some businessmen who have no clue about the media set up radio stations and employ some people who have no idea about media ethics.

Regarding social media, he said there is an expansion of expression and ideas, which is very important because it has brought people together in diverse ways.

He, however, noted, "It is very bad for a media house to pick materials on social media and publish without any form of verification." 

The journalism professor added that traditional media is the last resort for many people to verify the truth.

"The role of the media is to put themselves in a position of trust for the public to depend on them for what is the truth instead of social media," he said.