Technology is key in promoting future news - Deputy Communications Minister 

Ghana’s Deputy Minister of Communications, Mr Ato Sarpong, says technology is key in promoting the future of news and urged media houses pay more attention to the new media and its content.

He said most television and radio stations depend on the social media to for their contents and technology adding that the emergence of the Internet has changed.

The Deputy Minister said in the early 50s, Ghana had four newspapers with no private radio station but now Ghana has over 21 television networks and over 200 newspapers, which calls for the stepping up of technology to meet the needs of consumers of news.

Mr Sarpong, said this when he unveiled online editors and also opened a forum on “Shaping The Future of News” in Accra last Friday.

The program organised by Penplusbytes, in collaboration with Joy FM, Graphic and Ghana News.com was attended by over 100 participants, including journalists and Editors, and also aimed at shaping the content and future of news on the Africa continent.

The Deputy Communications Minister commended the organisers of the forum, which he said, will serve as a vibrant and interactive platform.

“News will change and will continue to evolve so fact checking should be paramount to get our content accurate,” he said.

He also urged the media to invite experts to comment on topical issues “avoid asking people with little or no idea or knowledge on topics to comment on them”.

“Journalists should always ask themselves if information passed on is in the five-fold principle and test, will it help in the developing the nation, will it empower people, will it enhance business to flourish, is it information that will lead to reformation across the nation and the globe, and will it assure those who listen a better tomorrow for all, that is the test of journalism,” he added.  

Mr Sarpong called on the media to always separate government issues from that of political issues in order not to confuse the public.

He said creativity is the way to go forward and that should reflect in news on a daily basis.

During interaction segment with the participants the panelists agreed that traditional media needs to step up in terms of technology to be abreast with social media.

According to them what the news users need is accuracy, easy accessibility and how the news will enhance their business in terms of government policies and budgets.

They therefore urged journalists to move into the digital literacy to enhance development.
    
The panelists also stressed the need to have a strong accountability journalism and solution journalism to enable users to have a fair share of their money.


GBC