Some five years ago, I authored a paper entitled ‘63 Years On – The Ghanaian Media’. In that paper, I contended that Ghana’s media landscape had largely been perceived as professionally weak, overtly partisan, and dominated by opinionated journalists beholden to political power centres, rather than serving the public good.

After an extensive historical overview of the development of the media in Ghana and the decline in professionalism within the sector, I concluded by advocating for media organisations to establish sustainable businesses underpinned by strong economic foundations. I also proposed significant reforms in media structures, operational practices, and newsroom culture.

For media owners, I suggested the importance of prioritising staff development through training programmes to foster a robust industry. I argued that, while short-term training from international organisations, local NGOs, and media associations concerned with improving media coverage can have their merits, I media organisations had the responsibility to take their own initiatives seriously by dedicating resources to the professional growth of their journalists.

I urged editors and media managers to allocate resources to improving content quality, employing better-qualified professionals, and holding them to higher journalistic standards. I cautioned that the prevailing emphasis on speed over accuracy needed to be addressed by editors and producers, as it is not sufficient to merely break news but far more important to break accurate news.

A Worse State

Five years on, the concerns of professionalism that I complained about has completely worsened, with sensationalism and misinformation becoming the norm. The relentless pursuit of breaking news has led to widespread inaccuracies and sensationalist headlines that prioritise attention over truth. Fuelled by political propaganda, media outlets now sacrifice accuracy for speed in their bid to align with political narratives or to increase viewership.

This situation is worse on radio, television, and new media platforms, exacerbated by opportunistic ‘awardpreneurs’, who confer awards on individuals who are the loudest, yet lack substance.

For most of my adult life, journalism has been my sole profession. Beginning just days after completing secondary school as an unpaid reporter for Kumasi-based Angel FM, this profession has sustained me throughout my life. I am therefore deeply troubled to witness its current degradation, brought about by the actions and inactions of a few.

Concerns

My concerns are heightened now that I am a father. With the advent of advanced technology, the impact of today’s journalistic output is likely to endure for generations. So what are we leaving as our digital footprint for the next generation?

I wonder about the kind of journalism some people practice in this country, particularly those who appear on television and radio. Do their spouses and children watch and listen to them? Do they care that their children are watching them? What questions do their children ask their spouses when they sit together to watch or listen to their mother or father on television? And when such journalists return home, are they able to watch and listen to the replay of their own content together with their spouses and children? What answers do they give to their children when asked about some of their actions?

As a father, these questions weigh heavily on my mind. Is this the best we can do with our profession?

Today, even the once-respected media houses have thrown all caution to the wind and instead indulge in sensationalism, rejecting the services of professionals and employing those who shout the loudest.
How long will this continue? I am worried.

By Nana Kwasi Asuman-Frimpong