“Prioritize cybersecurity throughout reporting process” - Prof. Kofi Sarpong Adu-Manu urges Journalists

Associate Professor of Wireless Communication Networks and Vice President of the University of Ghana Chapter of the University Teachers Association of Ghana (UG-UTAG), Prof. Kofi Sarpong Adu-Manu, has urged journalists to strengthen cybersecurity measures at every stage of the news production process to protect the credibility of their work and safeguard sensitive information.

Speaking on the second day of a Cybersecurity Training for Media in Accra, Prof. Adu-Manu cautioned that compromised investigations, leaked documents, altered files, or hacked accounts could significantly undermine public trust in journalists and media organisations.

According to him, journalists must ensure that their work is protected before publication, during the publication process, and even after stories have been released to the public.

“Your work does not end when you publish it,” he said, explaining that media professionals must also protect published content from unauthorised alterations, deletion, or cyberattacks that could damage its authenticity.

Prof. Adu-Manu highlighted the three fundamental principles of information security—Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability (CIA)—as the foundation for protecting journalistic work.

He explained that confidential information should only be accessible to authorised individuals, the integrity of information must be preserved to prevent unauthorised modification, and information should remain available to legitimate users whenever it is needed.

He stressed that even minor security lapses could compromise an entire investigation, noting that journalists often handle sensitive information that could be exploited by criminals, hackers or other malicious actors.

The Associate Professor also warned that personal and organisational data have become valuable commodities in today’s digital economy.

He observed that governments, organisations and agencies increasingly rely on data for strategic decision-making and, in some instances, international cooperation, making information a highly valuable asset.

He further noted that while individuals frequently share personal information online without recognising its value, such data can be collected, analysed and monetised by various entities.

Citing examples of cyber incidents involving high-profile public figures, Prof. Adu-Manu underscored the growing threat of hacked social media accounts and other digital platforms, describing cybersecurity as an essential responsibility for media practitioners.

He encouraged journalists to remain vigilant and adopt robust digital security practices to protect their investigations, sources and professional reputation in an increasingly interconnected digital environment.

Prof. Adu-Manu made the remarks during a presentation at the Cybersecurity Training for Media, Day Two, held in Accra.

Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith