Ghanaian journalists' perceptions of political influence in radio journalism in Ghana

Abstract

This study assesses perceptions of political influence as an index in Ghanaian radio journalism through media ownership and related media and communication models on the heels of two research questions. The assessment is borne out of perceptions of political influence many journalists in Ghana have, as affecting the Ghanaian context of radio journalism, which is an area of interest in global journalism – factors influencing professional activities of journalists and news organisations (be it political, economic, social, organisational, etc). Through combined efforts of online survey questionnaires and Skype interviews, the study explores whether there are perceptions of political influence in Ghanaian radio journalism or not by using mixed-methods (quantitative and qualitative). If there are such perceptions, the study goes the extra mile to weigh how threatening these perceptions are to journalism as a profession and institution (not compromising professional values) in the Ghanaian media market. The findings of the study show that a majority of Ghanaian journalists perceive political influence in radio journalism in the Ghana context and convey into the atmosphere of threat to press freedom indirectly through media ownership by direct persons publicly knowns as politicians and indirect persons (businessmen) or groups affiliated to one political party or the other. Dissenting views expressed through quantitative surveys with journalists and qualitative interviews with media stakeholders are the driving force for a resounding journalistic culture in the Ghanaian media context.