Media shifting its role to serial callers - EC

Magdalene Teiko Larnyoh 11:23 - 28 August 2016

EC Boss, Charlotte Osei

Radio talk shows usually allow listeners to call in and share their opinions on discussions on radio. But EC chairperson Mrs Charlotte Osei said the media is gradually ceding its powers to the serial callers.

Media practitioners and journalists are handing their role and power to serial callers on radio talk shows.

This is according to the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC) Charlotte Osei. She explained that the serial callers are gradually taking the agenda-setting role of the media from them.

Charlotte Osei said.

Charlotte Osei described this development as dangerous and called on the media to immediately address the issue before it gets worse.

She, however, added that “it may not be entirely wrong to hand the microphone to newspaper columnists and persons with useful contributions to make, it is dangerous to open the media space to vicious attackers of dissenting views and people who are skilled in insulting and undermining public persons and institutions.”

Mrs Osei continued.

She indicated that these serial callers are known for insulting even respected people in the society whilst the media seems to watch unconcern.

“In our more recent history, we have allowed serial callers and political actors to insult all and sundry including foreign diplomats, religious leaders and traditional rulers. As a nation, we seem to have sacrificed our national values, cultural attributes and our respect for others on the altar of multi-party politics using the vehicle of the free press.”

She, therefore, called on the media to find solutions to this development or risk the peace the nation is enjoying.

“In my view, we have just one item to sacrifice. Our collective peace and national stability. The media has contributed greatly in getting us where we are, can the media please help us retrace our steps as a nation and take ourselves back from the brim.”

The EC Chairperson who was speaking at the 21st Awards Night of the Ghana Journalists Association on Saturday (August 28), therefore called on the media to focus on issues that will help develop the nation.

“Journalists are more powerful than passive conveyer belts – passing on any message at all to the listeners and viewers. We can’t afford a passive media. This is not what we fought for as a nation for decades, many committed journalists made huge personal sacrifices of their lives and personal liberties for the freedom we are enjoying today and this is the time to appreciate and reward those sacrifices by the show of a more responsible and patriotic media fraternity.”

she added.