MTN Moves To Intensify Partnership With On-Line Media In Ghana

Ghana's market leader in telecommunications, Mobile Telecommunications Network (MTN), has intensified efforts to partner online media organizations in Ghana to further boost its renewed vision and mission to drive along the digital age of doing business.

It is in this vein that the company hosted chief editors of online media including bloggers in Accra to familiarise and interact with them to possibly explore opportunities that on-line media platforms could offer MTN in its media advocacy campaigns and operations in general.

The forum brought together leading online media organizations in Ghana such as ModernGhana, Ghanaweb, RadioXYZOnline, LiveFMOnline, SpyGhana, GhanaSoccernet, GraphicOnline,CitiFMOnline, MyJoyOnline, GNA among others.

The forum further gave the participants the opportunity to tour MTN's Switch and Data Center to familiarize themselves with the state of the art technology being used by the company to improve customer service.

Georgina Asare Fiagbenu at MTN Corporate Communications, addressing the forum said it was MTN's vision to lead the delivery of a bold new digital world to customers hence the involvement of the online media community in the affairs of MTN could chart a crucial new path towards the digital revolution in Ghana.

''It is also our mission to make our customers' lives a whole lot brighter. The MTN Online Forum is being organized to create an opportunity for MTN and managers of online platforms to discuss the opportunities available for business development and also promote MTN's vision of leading the delivery of a bold new digital world,'' she said.

In an insightful presentation, Georgina Fiagbenu walked participants through backgrounds from years ago when people relied on telegrams, phone booths among others to transmit and send messages and information explaining how the new digital world is transforming and moving the world.

"The power balance between companies and consumers in the digital age are changing considerably as product and service choices expand and consumers, through the internet and social media, have increased access to information companies once held the upper hand, but after the big shift of the digital age, consumers are gaining back that power".

Renowned Media Consultant, Kwesi Gyan Apenteng, on his part discussed with the editors extensively how they could support MTN in sharing information with the general public and customers.

He emphasized that online platforms present unique opportunities for MTN Company and brand and as platform of choice for breaking news including press releases.

''Creates debates and discussions online on critical issues with immediate links to social medias sites and other links to traditional media. Online Media also carry relatively large documents and can help with campaigns and advocacy,'' Mr. Apenteng pointed out.

"An online newspaper is the online version of a newspaper, either as a stand-alone publication or as the online version of a printed periodical. Online newspapers are much like hard-copy newspapers in the sense of having the same legal boundaries, such as laws regarding libel, privacy and copyright
E.g. in most countries, like in the UK. Also in the UK the Data Protection Act applies to online newspapers

...Online publishing as a 24/7 rolling news/information serving as a platform of choice for breaking news and new development links between online media and social media. It is not as limited by time and space where relatively large documents and electronic media can be published. Online media is versatile and has enough room for the imagination to stretch with instant publication, keyword recognition and brand awareness," he noted.

He further urged MTN to take advantage of what various online media platforms would offer since it is an area where majority of the growing social media online community can be reached.