Editor, Graphic shares lessons on reinvention and relevance at PCH Hangouts

The Editor, Graphic, Theophilus Yartey, on Wednesday evening took centre stage on Wednesday (April 23, 2025) at the PCH Hangouts hosted by ICGC New Wine Temple in East Legon, where he delivered a compelling personal and professional narrative on career growth, reinvention, and staying relevant in a changing world.

The event, themed around the concept of “repositioning”, was attended by a cross-section of professionals and young media practitioners. Sharing the platform with sports journalist Owuraku Ampofo, Mr Yartey drew deeply from his nearly three decades in the media industry, describing his journey as a mix of intentionality, humility, and bold decisions.

“There’s ‘born before computer’ and there are those born as computer babies,” he joked, “but regardless of which category you fall into, you must always be willing to reinvent yourself.” Yartey recalled starting his journalism career as an arts and entertainment reporter, focusing particularly on gospel musicians who were then sidelined by mainstream coverage. “They needed help, and I was young and full of wild ideas that, strangely, worked,” he said.

However, a moment of reckoning came when he received a paltry salary increment and proudly shared the news with his friend, Pastor Albert Ocran. “He looked at me and said, ‘Why are you doing this to yourself? My front desk lady earns more than you,’” Yartey recalled. That moment, he said, changed his life. “That was my turning point. I realised I needed to reposition.”

His transition into business journalism was deliberate. Yartey enrolled at the Ghana Stock Exchange for a course in securities and later pursued banking and finance—despite his background in the arts. “The class was full of bankers. I didn’t understand anything. It felt like I was swimming in the deep end,” he admitted, drawing laughter from the audience. But with grit and support from a few banker-friends, he excelled.

Over time, this new expertise opened doors. “I started covering the World Bank and IMF meetings. Today, if any Ghanaian journalist applies to cover those events, they call me for recommendations,” he said, emphasising the importance of social capital and meaningful professional relationships.

He shared a concept he called the “wiper blade theory” to illustrate the importance of visibility. “You need to let people know what you bring to the table. Don’t be invisible. When you add value, let your stakeholders know,” he advised, explaining how this principle helped him climb the ladder at Graphic.

Yartey, who now leads one of Ghana’s oldest media institutions at a time of digital disruption, stressed the value of adaptability. “The competition is leaner and better resourced, but you must still match them boot for boot. And to do that, you must think outside the box.”

Speaking on communication, he bemoaned how public speaking had been neglected in Ghanaian upbringing. “We were taught not to speak. Now, even when you get to the boardroom, you can’t sell yourself. That must change,” he said, urging parents to help children develop their presentation skills.

He ended his presentation by encouraging participants to remain authentic, strategic, and to know their strengths and limitations. “Be true to yourself. Learn to evaluate your progress, and constantly ask: what if? What if this doesn’t work—what’s my plan B?”