Theodore Hutchcroft Collection, This study uses qualitative and quantitative methods to content-analyze a sample of mass media, and solicit information (through focus group discussions -FGDs) from media personnel in Ghana in an attempt to find out how socio-economic factors affect their performance. The subject of study was coverage of health-related issues in both broadcast and print media. It found that, in general, there was very poor coverage of health issues, qualitatively and quantitatively, compared to that given to, say, politics, agriculture, economics and sport. It concludes that, among the topmost impediments to proper and adequate coverage of health-related issues are lack of specialization and professionalism among Ghanaian journalists. But systemic factors such as the state of the economy, lack of financial resources and equipment also adversely affect journalistic performance. (original)
Theodore Hutchcroft Collection, This study looks into the concept of democracy as it is understood within the African context and the role which the mass media could play in promoting and sustaining it. It argues that, given Africa's colonial experience and its history of struggle for human dignity and liberation, the appropriate role for the mass media must be to sustain this struggle. Accordingly, their relevance must be seen in relation to the extent to which they promote the developmental and democratic aspirations of the majority of the people. And, as such, training of African media practitioners must be predicated on the necessity to give them clear orientation for the achievement of these goals. Finally, the professional status of journalists and of the journalism profession must be acknowledged by political authorities and policy makers; journalists must be appropriately renumerated and their profession upgraded within the hierarchy of national priorities. (original)
Theodore Hutchcroft Collection, This article offers some reflections on the locus of peoples' stories, or their Sitz in Leben, i.e., leisure time. It explores this concept briefly from the perspectives of social anthropology and mass media studies. It then draws a political typology of peoples' stories which are of some significance to Africa's modern story-tellers, the mass media. (original)
