MASS MEDIA COVERAGE OF DEVELOPMENT ISSUES IN NORTHERN GHANA

Abstract

In Ghana, studies have shown the mass media mostly serve elitist audiences since programmes aired are either linguistically inaccessible to rural audiences or are of little relevance to the deprived communities. This study set out to investigate the role the media plays in development, especially with regards to its contribution towards placing the development of Northern Ghana on the national agenda. It aims at assessing the extent to which the national media reports on development issues emanating from Northern Ghana. Using content analysis of selected radio and television programmes and newspaper publications as well as interviews of media editors and audiences, the study revealed editors' awareness of the fact that there exist inequality in development between the North and South of Ghana and that such a gap has a v historical antecedence that needs to be addressed. However, media content shows the lack of attention to the development needs of the North. Not much newspaper space or sufficient airtime is devoted to stories on Northern development. Also, the media cover mainly organized events which are published in hard news fashion rather than researching into development challenges of Northern Ghana. The study recommends the organization of development reporting workshops for Ghanaian media practitioners and periodic visits of media editors based in the South to Northern Ghana, as well as the establishment of television stations in the North.