The Social Commentator : IS THE PROLIFERATION OF ONLLINE (DIS)INFORMATION I...

The Social Commentator : IS THE PROLIFERATION OF ONLLINE (DIS)INFORMATION I...: IS THE PROLIFERATION OF ONLLINE (DIS)INFORMATION INDICATIVE OF HOW THOROUGHLY DISCREDITED THE MAINSTREAM NEWS MEDIA HAS BECOME IN OUR POST...

IS THE PROLIFERATION OF ONLLINE (DIS)INFORMATION INDICATIVE OF HOW THOROUGHLY DISCREDITED THE MAINSTREAM NEWS MEDIA HAS BECOME IN OUR POST-TRUTH ENVIRONMENT?

IS THE PROLIFERATION OF ONLLINE (DIS)INFORMATION INDICATIVE OF HOW THOROUGHLY DISCREDITED THE MAINSTREAM NEWS MEDIA HAS BECOME IN OUR POST-TRUTH ENVIRONMENT?

Change is relatively difficult to comprehend. Systems that we have worked with, with time, becomes part of our everyday life. That reminds me of the popular phrase in economics-DIVISION OF LABOUR; where one become so much skillful in his area of expertise in a way that he no more need excessive time to execute his job/duty (that’s not the real definition, though). More so, a change in job schedule becomes almost unappreciated by actors (those involved in the change) in our environment. My argument is that, because the traditional or the mainstream media has operated all alone over time, and it seems difficult to kowtow to the new paradigm shift. 

Let’s then consider the following in short notes in this argument.

1.       Effects of Social Media on the Mainstream Media

2.       Accuracy, fairness, truth and objectivity

3.       Community of interest and

4.       Community of location

Advent of mass communication has been appreciated by almost everyone in the world. On the other hand, this same important aspect of communication pose a threat to the mainstream media, as most people now follow their celebrities such as the current President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and the former President, John Dramani Mahama, Yvonne Nelson, etc, on either Twitter, Facebook or Instagram.  This means that the mainstream news media should strategize in order to stay in business or collapse, since audience resort to Facebook, Twitter and others for their news, (though, not always credible or reliable) but do not care about as to whether or not, they are consuming the truth.

The Media, and for that matter journalists, are to ensure accuracy, fairness, truth, and objectivity in their reportage, as per the professional ethics require.  The main news media may not necessarily be blamed in the proliferation of online (dis)information. It is legitimate to argue that the mainstream media has strived to report the truth over the years, although, there are few individual members in the industry, whose reportage seem to tilt toward either political parties to favour them at a given time, it does not mean the whole industry has failed in order to discredit the mainstream news media.

Moreover, civic or citizen journalism is on the increase but not at its best. Community of Interest in the discipline-Community Journalism explains that even individuals without professional background can now Facebook, and twit news based on his own assumption and feeling, without necessarily heeding to matters of the ethics of journalism; truth, accuracy, and objectivity and/or fairness, etc. Media report(s) may concern a particular community, which some of its indigenous members live elsewhere in the world, whose common interest is to see their community roads tarred.

Community Journalism does not solely reside in the confines of Community of Location anymore, but rather what I will term as ‘global journalism’ in the twenty first century. Again, media report(s) may concern a particular community, which some of its indigenous members live elsewhere in the world, whose common interest is to see their community roads tarred and they may, as well, make material and non-material things available in support of it. This means that it has gone beyond traditional community. (Paraphrase of Bill Reads; Community Journalism)

I will conclude that although the issue in question is real, it is not totally correct that the proliferation of online (dis)information indicative of how thoroughly discredited the MAINSTREAM news media has become in our post-truth environment and should not be responsible for it, since the regulator may not single-handedly monitor every single post of individuals. However, the state and its agencies must modernize its mandate, including activities of the Mass Media, to propel the environment for effective and efficient news delivery.

Source: The Future Projects

By: Nyarko Abronomaa Walker

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The Social Commentator : POLITICS IN MATURED SOCIETY LIKE GHANA

The Social Commentator : POLITICS IN MATURED SOCIETY LIKE GHANA: POLITICS IN MATURED SOCIETY LIKE GHANA I have observed lots of political and social discourses here in our country for few years and wish...

THE MEDIA MUST BE AN INTEGRAL PART OF SOCIETY AND SUFFICIENTLY DIVERSE TO PRESENT THE PUBLIC WITH A REASONABLY REGIMEN OF NEWS AND VIEWS

THE MEDIA MUST BE AN INTEGRAL PART OF SOCIETY AND SUFFICIENTLY DIVERSE TO PRESENT THE PUBLIC WITH A REASONABLY REGIMEN OF NEWS AND VIEWS

Issues concerning the MEDIA and SOCIETY have long been discussed at different levels and at different times around the globe.

Contradictions as to whether or not, JOURNALISTS are well taken care of by their employers remains unanswered, and their remuneration issues can be traced back to the beginning of the profession itself, where professionals were referred to as low income earners. Even it’s evident today. This thought concerning lean salaries for journalists seem to be true, and Africa relatively most affected.

The situation is not different in Ghana. The following points will depict our discussion in short notes.

·         Ownership and control/censorship

·         Freedom of speech and expression

·         Economics and sponsorship

·         Political persuasion

We start our discussion with ownership and control of the media. We are very much aware that there are individuals belonging to political parties, who are owners of media houses in Ghana. It will be very difficult for journalists and their media houses to practice diversity in the society they serve.

However, freedom of speech and expression enshrined in the Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, provides enviable opportunities to citizens, young and old, to present views and also outline their concerns on Public or Social Policies that affect them negatively or positively. This is evident in talk-show programmes in the electronic media.

Moreover, media outlets continue to face challenges on the basis of economics and sponsorship issues. The airspace (for the electronic media) is very expensive and the MEDIA depend on advertisement to stay in business. Imagine a politician, who has injected huge sums of money into sponsoring your programme and at the same time the news item on your station has something that tarnishes his party’s image. This means that he will withdraw his investment without hesitation. This poses a threat to practicing professionalism and diversity in the industry to society.

Furthermore, the wake of mass media, including SOCIAL MEDIA platforms; Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc, has provided undeniable opportunities to individual bloggers, to woo their followers through their artistic writings to set agenda. It is this same channel Barack Hussein Obama, the former President of the United States, in his presidential ambitions in 2008, at the time almost all media outlets in the country had denied him access to the mainstream media, reach his million audiences through Facebook, to vote him into power. The current President of the same country, Donald John Trump, seems to utilize twitter to send his message, even about his government/governance.

To conclude with, the MEDIA is not sufficiently diverse to present the public with reasonable news and views. One unanswered thought I had always had is, if we are aware of control of the media by the elites in society but that is not acceptable, that alone admonishes us to do something about it. It is high time we came out with new or different theories and ideologies that will avert political(cians) or the elites in society influencing situations, so that the MEDIA can be professional and diverse.

I recommend that we consider this discussion topic and comments, including many others, to reach a consensus to make our media landscape free from control, to provide diversified news and views to the public(s).

 

Source: The Future Projects

By:  Nyarko Abronomaa Walker

Follow The Social Commentator @
myfutureprojects.blogspot.com

POLITICS IN MATURED SOCIETY LIKE GHANA

POLITICS IN MATURED SOCIETY LIKE GHANA

I have observed lots of political and social discourses here in our country for few years and wish to outline my thoughts.

Having consumed some of these discussions on radio, in the dailies, on social media platforms and televisions, I hardly hear suggested solutions to the issues that affect us negatively or positively. Most of the times, it's about the New Patriotic Party's (NPP's) or the National Democratic Congress' (NDC's) inability to solve this country's numerous problems. 

Of course, they determine how our lives should look like in the current dispensation, with their political interests. However, we need to demonstrate to them that they can no more take us for a ride in our current maturational stage.

Moreover, it will be of best interest, to scrutinize every public or social policy the sitting government plans to implement and ask relevant and critical questions; what to implement? why the policy and why is it necessary? from which source is it to be funded? etc, and probably the citizens provision of intellectual and material assistance to implement the policy smoothly, where necessary.(like the "Free SHS", Health Insurance, YEA, National Youth Policy, August 2010, etc)

We should also get close eyes on even answers provided to our numerous questions. That means they must provide us with the capital injection so that we can monitor how much is going where? how much has been spent with time? are we achieving the goal; so we should continue or terminate the contract and even hold officials accountable to their necks, for ignoring due diligence but implementing maybe, wrongly.
When we do this with time, there will be considerable change in how they will do their things, because the citizenry will hold them accountable, if they messed up.

I hear a probable fuel hike before close of the week. Do we think this is going to stop? A big 'NO'. Politicians will not stop the "blame game" that the opposition seem to care about the ordinary Ghanaian, at a given period. The attitude changes when in power.
Let us accept, in the first place that with the current system the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) run with the Automatic Adjustment Formula, will not in any way, favour us sooner than later. To me, not even in future because, it is the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) that control crude oil prices and our politicians are not ready to host the burden. So then, let us forget about this or that party has disappointed us with its words, when in opposition. You may recall the former administration taxed us with its "Petroleum Levy", with the argument that the country owed and needed to clear that petroleum debt but it did not remove it even at the time the debt had been cleared, and still running under this administration, which is almost two years in office.

The Dollar is on ascendancy.
Some two days ago, the Minister designate for the Information Ministry, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, explained, referring to administrative measures by the United State of America government's decision to increase interest rate, which according to him, has increased local withdrawals in Dollars by Ghanaian nationals back to the USA. He also continued that local currencies across the globe is facing same situations, citing “Argentina falling by 50.23 per cent, Turkey by 42.3%, South Africa by 19.24%, India by 11.27% , the British Pound by 4.29% and the Euro almost 4%”, meaning the Cedi has performed relatively well by reducing at 7% to the dollar.
Dr. Mahamoudou Bawumiah has also tried to give some instances on the situation but Ghanaian traders have not taken it lightly with him at all.

We ought to provide solutions to through positive critique, than to wade into cheap politicking and complains. Moreover, we need to join the campaign of producing what we eat than the excessive imports. We need to speak against trade and business transactions in dollars locally, to avert the situation.

We need to demonstrate maturity in democratic dispensation through politics than what we see now.

Source: The Future Projects
By: Nyarko Abronomaa Walker