A survey by the University of Ghana’s Communications Department and the Media Foundation for West Africa found the ‘abusive’ and bad working circumstances of journalists in the nation.
According to the research, some journalists labour for lengthy periods of time without salary, and those who do receive income are paid pitifully little.
Again, it was shown that most media personnel lack healthcare coverage and contracts, as well as counselling services if they face trauma on the job.
In addition, “recruitment into the Ghanaian media is often not transparent,” according to the research.
“There are no clear processes for advancement in most media organisations; promotion is mostly reliant on ‘whom you know’ and owners’/managers’ whims,” the research added.
According to the research, the COVID-19 epidemic has worsened the media’s deteriorating conditions. Revenue has been reduced, and many employment prospects have been lost; social media and huge tech corporations like Google, Facebook, and Twitter are likely to blame owing to their prominence in the information ecosystem. “Technological advancements…have also imposed huge financial stresses on media organisations since they must retool and modernise their operations to remain competitive.”
Some of the report’s significant conclusions include:
MEDIA’S FINANCIAL VIABILITY
- In general, many media organisations in Ghana are not lucrative; they barely break even.
- The financial viability of several Ghanaian media organisations is jeopardised.
- To keep afloat, Ghanaian media are experimenting with new economic strategies such as digitisation, amalgamation, event marketing, and crowdfunding.
- Digital technologies are rapidly transforming media finance structures in Ghana.
- Digital media is increasingly an important source of revenue for Ghanaian media.
- One of the most serious dangers to the media’s financial stability is industry saturation.
MEDIA OWNERSHIP AND REGULATION
- In Ghana, media plurality has not always served the public interest, owing to the concentration of media in a few hands.
- Media ownership is cloaked in mystery.
- There is an increasing trend towards media empire-building.
- The political aspects underlying broadcast media ownership imply that partisan players and governments may exert influence over public discourse.
- The NCA seems unconcerned about openness in media ownership.
- The existing broadcast regulatory structure gives people whose behaviour the media is meant to monitor tremendous power and influence.
MEDIA SAFETY
- Journalists in Ghana are increasingly fearful.
- Journalist safety violations are rather regular in Ghana.
- Mens journalists are more likely to be attacked than female journalists.
- Investigative journalists are the most vulnerable to terrorist assaults.
- State actors, notably political appointees and police, are the worst perpetrators of attacks against journalists.
Journalists believe that law enforcement and the judiciary do little to ensure their safety.
