Enhancing Effective Journalism : PRINPAG President Courts Government Support For Media Practitioners

The President of the Private Newspapers and Online News Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG), Andrew Edwin Authur, has solicited government support for media organisations in Ghana to ensure effective practice.

He said the media in Ghana today is much challenged as there are virtually no support to private news publishers, unlike in some African countries where the state has made it a key responsibility to support the media to be very productive.

“The story must change. Journalists in Ghana are struggling to pay their rent and feed their children. Some have to beg or sleep outside. I believe the situation can turn around if we collaborate,” he noted.

The President lamented that some members of PRINPAG lack adequate managerial skills that would enable them run their media houses effectively for profit.
“Surprisingly, our journalism schools don’t teach managerial skills. These are some of the things working against us” .

He called for further training for members of the Association to enhance their skills and capacity to make them more viable in the discharge of their duties as the fourth arm of the realm.

“the need for a deliberate state policy on media advertising, reducing taxes on raw materials for printing, subsidizing newsprints, capacity building for journalists, among others is key” Mr Authur added.

He stated these on Tuesday, May 21, 2024 when the newly sworn in Minister of Information, Fatimatu Abubakar, paid a working visit to the National Secretariat of the media association in Accra.

The visit was to enable the minister familiarize with the challenges of private media owners and to explore avenues of mutual collaboration.
The President described the Minister’s working visit to the Association’s secretariat as historic as it stands to foster positive relationship between PRINPAG and the Ministry of Information (MoI).

“This is the first time a high – ranking minister has visited PRINPAG in recent times; and we believe this is going to open doors for a lot of collaborations”
“There used to be good collaborations in the past but things changed. We need to do retrospection and see what we have done wrong,” he stated.

Mr Authur said media practitioners do not have to throw their hands in the air in despair because there is hope in the new minister who is very active saying that we believe that with her track record, we can do more.

He expressed satisfaction with the work of the Minister since her days as a deputy minister of information, through to her elevation to the substantive Minister position.
The President of PRINPAG assured the Minister of the Association’s continued support as she assumes full control of the Ministry.

The minister affirmed her commitment to continue the collaborations initiated by her predecessors to enhance the growth and development of the print and online media.
Md Fatimatu Abubakar promised a frequent engagements with PRINPAG to enhance a support system for private news publishers in the country.

Among others, she revealed that the draft Broadcasting Bill is about 90 per cent ready and that the revised draft document has been received from the Office of the Attorney General and approved by cabinet for laying in parliament.

She appealed to PRINPAG to offer its maximum support during the public consultation stages so that the final document that would come out from parliament would be what stakeholders really want.

“I ask that all the support you gave to my predecessor, you give to me too. There are some key developments that I know I will need your collaboration” the minister emphasized.

Source: Asempadawuro