Doors to Diplomacy 2006 Project 4234,
Mfantsipim School, Cape Coast, Ghana
Comentators of the Game of Politics
Defining Mass Media
Mass media can be defined as avenues for messages that are created for consumption by large numbers of people. These "message consumers" are physically separated from one another (to distinguish a mass medium audience from, for example, attendees at a pro football game). They are also diverse in terms of their interests, values, and other demographical characteristics.
The first mass medium was books. When Gutenberg produced those Bibles with his movable type press, he set the stages for a revolution. No longer would books be produced by hand solely for the edification of the rich, privileged, and powerful. For the first time in history, printers made books -- and the ideas they contained -- available to citizens of more modest means.
This spread of "dangerous" notions frightened rulers who depended upon a compliant and uncomplaining populace for their power and prestige. Those who dared defy these monarchs by marketing their mass wares faced burning, burial alive, and seizure of their property.
Despite these harsh penalties, books continued to spread. Eventually, they contributed to Martin Luther's "heresy" and the formation of the Protestant Church.
Even today, books continue their subversive ways.
For centuries, mass media were limited to books, newspapers, and magazines. The dawn of the Twentieth Century saw an explosion in new ways for writers, business owners, and others to reach large numbers of people. Thomas Edison's hand-cranked films led the way to silent movies, followed by "talkies" in 1925 and "3-D" extravaganzas in the 1950's. Now movies are distributed not only in theaters but via television, videocassettes, DVD's, and for short pieces, even through the Internet.
Interview with Mr. Egbert Fabille(Former Editor In Chief Of The Independence News Paper)
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TEAM: What do you think is the role of the media in politics?
Mr. Fabille: The whole of the media is essentially to educate, to inform and to entertain the people that is broadly speaking. The medias role in politics is that of a watch dog role. People have come to accept the fact the media is the fourth estate of the realm that is the fourth of the government the media monitors the other three arms of government. It acts as a mirror which reflects everything that it sees, it’s sometimes crusades to ensure that human rights are not trampled upon by people. The media ensure that matters come up for discussion. The media does many exposé’s about corruption and several others to allow to know what is going on in which political choices are best for them at any point in time.
Mr. Egbert Fabille in an interview with a team member.
TEAM: Do you think Ghana’s media is performing their role very well.
Mr. Fabille: Yes, to a large extent, we have a vibrant, a press which is aggressive and credible. We have come a very long way as we know from Rawling’s military dictatorship and what was known as culture of silence. Today,we have all manner of media houses who are all playing their role to ensure that this country gets to its desired level of development. The media is poised to go to higher level to ensure it executes it s mandates.
TEAM: What is freedom of speech?
Mr. Fabille: It is any environment where there is constitutional rule such that no man is taking on for anything he says as far as what he said is not viewed as a crime. Freedom of speech exists where one is able to state his or her views, beliefs, position on all matters of society, but that is not to say that one can make pronouncement to people in government or any authority which is false and cannot be sued in a court as a civil action.
TEAM: Is the media of Ghana abusing freedom of speech?
Mr. Fabille: Like in any organizational setup we have several kinds apparitions and inconsistencies, so to an extent certain parts of the Ghanaian media has its privilege over abused. When it comes to freedom of speech it sometimes abuses its mandates. Even though they have done very well I think there are some instances where the media has fallen short of its responsibilities.
TEAM: What is politics?
Mr. Fabille: Politics is certainly an act, it is a very broad subject or institution which entails governance, checking those in power and all manner of things. It has its administrative and security sites.
TEAM: Who is a politician?
Mr. Fabille: Plato, said that: “man is a political animal” and so I believe that all of us are politicians. Even at the domestic level we have some kind of politics that we play, if you want money from your dad, how to convince him and get it constitutes politics. We have also added some value to it, that is, some people make a living out of politics. In strict terms those who make a living out of politics can be called politicians.
TEAM: What are criticisms?
Mr. Fabille: It is an everyday experience. It takes place when we are given birth to till when we die. At another level criticisms can be very, very unfriendly. That is what really pertains in politics. Everything that the NPP does, does not meet the expectations of the NDC. So they criticize sometimes even unjustifiably. What I can say is that criticism is good for development except that we should be constructive in our criticisms.
Criticism is part of the role of the media. If there is a factual basis for it, why not?
TEAM: What advice do you give to upcoming politicians?
Mr. Fabille: Know the art of politics very well, train your mind and then you can enter politics at any level.
TEAM: What is the effect of peace in politics?
Mr. Fabille: Politics should peaceful because governance itself is something that needs peace for the large mass. Politics is a vehicle by which governance is attained therefore if politics itself is not peaceful, then governance will also not be peaceful. Politics must be peaceful and politicians should discuss what is right such that they cannot lead to discrimination.
TEAM: What is your advice to the media?
Mr. Fabille: Educate yourself well, learn very hard, just have a keen interest in global and local events, read the newspapers and anything you can get your hands on and other subjects because journalism is a second order activity. Journalism is not about really being an expert, it is about understanding and writing stories about them from archaeology to zoology.
TEAM: What do you think is the future of politics?
Mr. Fabille: Once we live, politics will always be with us but I see a Ghana where our politics will get sophisticated than now. We are just about years in constitutional rule, that is the 4th republic, we are finding rough edges and we hope to see smooth edges soon.
TEAM: How does politics affect our lives?
Mr. Fabille: Politics affect all aspects of our lives, for the decisions that are taken by parliament, cabinet and political parties have a direct bearing on our economy. For example, depending on which party is in power, when the party is a liberal or dictator or democratic, it has an effect on the economy, whether we will run an open market or close market our standard of living, inflation transaction and how we will deal with inflation all depend on government and politics.
TEAM: What are some of the interesting topics you did?
Mr. Fabille: The most interesting topic I did was when the government wanted to sell Ghana Airways to a South African airline called Nationwide, and the terms were so ridiculous. I came up very hard on it, I fought it and in the long run the government changed it’s mind on that issue, that it was no longer going to sell Ghana Airways to the South African airline. I was very happy of what I did knowing that I have been able to serve my country in the way I think I should have.
Interview with Gabby Otchere-Darko –
Editor-In-Chief Of the Statesman, a popular newspaper in Ghana.
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Mr. Gabby Otchere-Darko in a pose with a team member after the interview.
TEAM: What is the role of the media in politics?
Mr. Otchere-Darko:The media is the mechanism of information transfer. Chapter 12 of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana, Article 162 clause 5 says: “ freedom of independence of the media is guaranteed”. It also talks about the role of the media in politics, it says: “all agencies of the mass media shall at all times uphold the principles, provisions and objectives of the constitution and also the responsibilities and accountability of the government and the people of Ghana .As far as the constitution is concerned we have a political role in the governance of the people. Conventionally or traditionally the media is described as fourth arm of government ,politically we must ensure that the rule of law is upheld since the various political parties and government take their breath from the constitution .
TEAM: Do you think the Ghanaian media are performing their role ?
Mr. Otchere-Darko:I think they are doing well, but also we can do more to promote good governance . The difficulty is that our politics is maturing and this process is overwhelmed by propaganda. It will also be difficult to paint all media houses with the same brush and paint, some of them are doing better than others in terms of their responsibilities.
TEAM: What is politics?
Mr. Otchere-Darko: Politics is life. Politics determines everything you do ,because it is the government that passes decrees which may affect you life.
TEAM: Who is a politician?
Mr. Otchere-Darko: A politician is someone who makes a living and contribute to politics.
TEAM: What advice can you give to those wish to enter into politics?
Mr. Otchere-Darko: My advice to them is you should know and learn their history well, ensure you are an intelligent person when it comes to economic history, understand the social dynamics of the people, the ethnic race. You should also be in tune with the needs and sentiments of the people. You should also be aware of the constraints of the government and political officers too.
TEAM: what is the future politics?
Mr. Otchere-Darko: I think the future of politics is very bright, progressive and it is also great.