Media focuses too much on politics - MPs

Accra, Nov. 23, GNA - Mr Benjamin Kofi Aryeh, NPP-Upper Denkyira West on Thursday decried the media's over concentration on political issues, saying, it was drifting the nation away from matters of national development.

He appealed to the media to help reshape the thinking of the nation by changing the substance of the debates and talks regarding the critical issues of nation building.

In a statement on the Media's Role in Shaping National Agenda in Parliament, Mr. Aryeh explained that there were issues of greater national concern, "but they never get the required space or airtime for the use of the people."

He expressed worry that a couple of journalists and serial callers have assumed omniscience, commenting on any and every subject from armed forces strategic plans through cardiovascular operation to confidential cabinet minutes.

Mr Aryeh called for a stop to the case where professional radio discussants and journalists play on the illiteracy and ignorance of a sizeable number of the population with nation wrecking-headlines. "This should not be allowed to distract our attention from the bigger pictures," he added.

Mr Aryeh said as the fourth estate, he recognizes the crucial role of the media and cannot imagine living in a world without the media, "but the profession demands the finest of minds for the high level of analysis, investigations and synthesis they strive to do." He disagreed with the situation in the country today where it was rather the media, which on daily basis, calls for what needs to be discussed in the country.

He discounted the situation where somebody with access to the media or journalists plants a horrible story and is empanelled the next day to review his or her own story, even to the extent where telephone lines are opened and the whole nation jumps on the matter for weeks on end. Mr Aryeh said if 25 per cent of the valuable airtime and space spent promoting programmes on Valentine and the "trivia" topics on the drive times on radio were spent on how to eliminate mosquito for instance, "we would be saving our nation a lot, he argued."

He urged the media to conduct a sustained debate and discussions with experts on the just-read 2007 budget to the understanding of our rural folks as to the opportunities that it presents to them. Responding to the statement, Mr Joe Baidoe-Ansah, NPP-Effia-Kwesimintim, said it was important for the media to open up for other views other than political issues since those other things also hold up good for the country.

He said the situation where everything is reflective of politics was not good and did not show the real essence of what journalism could offer.

Mr Baidoe-Ansah however said persons who are skilled must lead the media's role in a democracy and be able, with knowledge, to move society forward, "it is in this direction that I think journalists with their huge experience should be of use to the country."

Dr. Benjamin Kumbuor, NDC-Lawra-Nandom said it was wrong to see the media as a monolithic institution and urged people to lead purposeful lives.

He said the problem was not with the media, but the public who must choose to read or listen to a particular media.

Dr. Kumbuor was of the opinion that the situation where politicians own media houses could be contributing to the current trend of biased media reportage, though there was nothing actually wrong with politicians owning media houses so long as they are objective in their coverage.

He was not happy that certain media houses openly declare a negative stance against certain people, political parties and institutions. Mr Lee Ocran, NDC-Jomoro described the current negative media reportage as a situation where, "we have sown the wind and reaping the whirlwind."

He condemned the practice where the media focus on things that did not help development, saying the practice must be checked as it disorientates the people.

Mr Joe Kingsley Hackman, NPP-Gomoa West was of the view that the media should be regulated and made to operate like engineers, doctors and pharmacists.

"They must be scrutinised and those found to be bad or not doing the right things be put out."

Kwame Osei Prempeh, NPP- Nsuta Kwamang Beposo said there was nothing wrong with some media taking certain stance since that was the practice worldwide.

"If you go to the United Kingdom, you are not left in doubt what the Sun, Daily Mail and others stand for in relation to either the Labour Party or the Conservative Party, the same is in the United States," he added.