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11.05.2007 General News

Ghanaian Media should Do More

11.05.2007 LISTEN
By Daily Graphic

Dear Editor, The underlying role of any media institution is to inform, educate and entertain its audience.

Though the media is primarily profit-oriented, it has the social and moral responsibility to be an important cog in the wheel of national development.

There are more than twenty radio stations in Accra alone with many more in the other regions. In addition there are about five television stations countrywide.

The media has to inform football fans on the news of the day, the laws of the game and also groundbreaking advances that will enhance the way the game is played such as goal-line technology, the use of artificial turfs and so on.

For the duration of the build-up and the tournament proper of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, media coverage of the game reached unprecedented levels. Constant updates were given and details were sought and reported with astonishing speed and clarity.

It should be emphasised that the Ghanaian media should not only thrive on announcing match fixtures, disciplinary cases involving football-related malpractices and other sensational news.

Instead, the media should contribute to attitudinal change that is the main cause of the widespread ignorance of football. The media is also bound to give the audience objective and analytical angles to the news of the day.

If an official reveals that, say, the Bossman ruling will take effect in Ghana from tomorrow, the media should not close the page on the topic by only reporting it on the sports shows.

Well-balanced expert opinion from both knowledgeable proponents and opponents should be sought for the public to decide whether it is in the best interest for the ruling to take effect. That is a responsible media journalism at work.

Gary Al-Smith,

(Student Journalist, GIJ),

P. O. Box OS 406,

Osu, Accra.

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