GBC board member proposes Media Devt Fund
A board member of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), Francis Dadzie, has proposed the creation of a dedicated Media Development Fund to enable state media houses to overcome their financial challenges.
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The fund, he said, should focus on capacity building, content creation and technological upgrades to create space for financial growth and expansion.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic, Mr Dadzie said the fund could be sourced from a combination of government allocations, grants from international organisations and private-sector partnerships.
“This funding should be guaranteed annually and not subject to political whims,” he stressed.
Additionally, Mr Dadzie suggested that the government should enact legislation to create a supportive environment for state media operations.
That, he said, could include measures such as tax incentives, subsidies for equipment and logistics purchases and policies that encouraged investment in media infrastructure.
Mr Dadzie also advocated policies that protected the rights and interests of journalists to ensure that they had the legal backing to negotiate fair wages and working conditions.
He also encouraged the various state media outlets to invest in digital platforms that could attract online advertising, subscriptions and pay-per-view services.
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He said the media house must capitalise on its extensive archives and unique content by offering paid access to premium content online.
Government support
Mr Dadzie also said the government needed to provide support to state media houses to help them overcome their financial challenges.
He said the state media outlets were currently facing difficulties due to a combination of reduced government funding, competition from private media, challenges in digital adaptation, operational inefficiencies and economic pressures.
He emphasised that those factors were putting the sustainability of state-run media at risk, which could hinder their ability to fulfil their critical role in providing reliable information, fostering national unity and serving the public interest.
Transparency and credibility
Furthermore, Mr Dadzie urged state media houses to implement strategies that could enhance transparency, independence and credibility.
He said that would help to clear the general misconception that the state media was controlled by the government.
For instance, he said they must adopt and publicly commit to editorial guidelines that emphasised impartiality, objectivity and fairness.
Additionally, he said they must foster a newsroom culture that prioritises journalist integrity and independence.
“They must encourage their journalists to report on stories that matter to the public even if they are critical of the government,” Mr Dadzie added.
He also called for a strong collaboration between the state media and civil society organisations to develop and promote content that reflected the interests of the broader public rather than just the government’s agenda.