Commodification of Development Programming on Radio in Northern Ghana

Alhassan, A, Odartey-Wellington and Amadu, M. 2018. Commodification of Development Programming on Radio in Northern Ghana. Ecquid Novi: African Journalism Studies. 39 (2), pp. 75-89. https://doi.org/10.1080/23743670.2018.1473270

TitleCommodification of Development Programming on Radio in Northern Ghana
TypeJournal article
AuthorsAlhassan, A, Odartey-Wellington and Amadu, M.
Abstract

This article discusses the commodification of development programming such as news and other content in the Ghanaian media space. It uses the case of two NGOs operating in the Northern Region to examine how development programming is transmitted via FM radio stations in the region. Using in-depth interviews and observations as methodologies, the study investigates the evolving phenomenon of development NGOs buying airtime to broadcast development messages and also examines how this monetisation of development content dissemination impacts the practice of journalism as a civic act. The irony of NGOs as actors in the gift economy becoming agents of commodification of development content brings into focus the political and economic dimensions of the intersection of market and non-market relations in development practice. We argue that this trend of development programme dissemination displaces the civic responsibility of the media who are supposed to inform and educate the listening community through journalism. The article recommends policy evolution to realign the scope and focus of local media with development reporting.

Keywordsdevelopment journalism, development communication, NGOs, Ghana local radio, commodification, broadcasting policy
JournalEcquid Novi: African Journalism Studies
Journal citation39 (2), pp. 75-89
Year2018
PublisherTaylor & Francis
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/23743670.2018.1473270
Web address (URL)https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/23743670.2018.1473270
Publication dates
Published21 Jun 2018

Related outputs

Community Radio Broadcasting and Local Governance Participation in Ghana: A Study of Simli Radio in the Kumbungu District of the Northern Region.
Amadu, Mohammed Faisal 2023. Community Radio Broadcasting and Local Governance Participation in Ghana: A Study of Simli Radio in the Kumbungu District of the Northern Region. PhD thesis University of Westminster Westminster School of Media and Communication https://doi.org/10.34737/w41zq

Journalistic ethics and elections news coverage in the Ghanaian press: a content analysis of two daily Ghanaian newspaper coverage of election 2020
Mohammed Faisal Amadu, Eliasu Mumuni and Ahmed Taufique Chentiba 2023. Journalistic ethics and elections news coverage in the Ghanaian press: a content analysis of two daily Ghanaian newspaper coverage of election 2020. Journal of Information, Communication & Ethics in Society. 21 (1), pp. 63-75. https://doi.org/10.1108/jices-04-2022-0039

Understanding the Influence of Communication on Employee Work Satisfaction: Perspectives from Decentralised Government Institutions in the Oti Region, Ghana
Amadu, M.F. and Anyarayor, B.K 2022. Understanding the Influence of Communication on Employee Work Satisfaction: Perspectives from Decentralised Government Institutions in the Oti Region, Ghana. Education Research International. 2022 5024703. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/5024703

Edu-Communication Strategies of Cashew Production in a Rural Ghanaian Community
Anyarayor, B.K., Amadu, M.F. and Alhassan, A. 2021. Edu-Communication Strategies of Cashew Production in a Rural Ghanaian Community. Journal of Extension Education. 32 (3) 6532. https://doi.org/10.26725/JEE.2020.3.32.6532-6541

A Quantitative Examination of the Phenomenon of Soli and Public Relations Practice in Ghana
Chentiba, A.T., Amadu, M. F. and Mumuni, E. 2021. A Quantitative Examination of the Phenomenon of Soli and Public Relations Practice in Ghana. Journal of Development and Communication Studies. 8 (1), pp. 74-98. https://doi.org/0.4314/jdcs.v8i1.4

Factors Influencing Sustainable Land and Water Management Technologies Uptake in Northern Ghana
Adam, H, Amadu, M.F. and Damba, O.T 2020. Factors Influencing Sustainable Land and Water Management Technologies Uptake in Northern Ghana. Atatürk University Journal of Agricultural Faculty. 51 (3), pp. 297-308. https://doi.org/10.17097/ataunizfd.681352

Access to Improved Sanitation Facilities and Female School Attendance: A study of Savelugu Municipality of Ghana
Anyarayor, B.K., Alhassan, A. and Amadu, M. 2019. Access to Improved Sanitation Facilities and Female School Attendance: A study of Savelugu Municipality of Ghana. Journal of Arts and Humanities. 8 (1), pp. 56-67. https://doi.org/10.18533/journal.v8i1.1563

Community radio in rural development in Northeastern Ghana: the experiences of radio Gaakii in the Saboba district
Amadu, M.F. and Alhassan, A. 2018. Community radio in rural development in Northeastern Ghana: the experiences of radio Gaakii in the Saboba district. International Research Journal of Social Sciences. 7 (5), pp. 1-12.

Assessment of Newspaper Circulation and Readership in Northern Ghana
Amadu, M. F, Mohammed, A.M, Alhassan, A. and Mohammed, F. 2018. Assessment of Newspaper Circulation and Readership in Northern Ghana. UDS International Journal of Development. 5 (2), pp. 108-120. https://doi.org/10.47740/300.UDSIJD6i

Community Access and Participation in Community Radio Broadcast: Case of Radio Gaakii, Ghana
Amadu, M.F. and Alhassan, A 2018. Community Access and Participation in Community Radio Broadcast: Case of Radio Gaakii, Ghana. Journal of Communication and Development Studies. https://doi.org/10.4314/jdcs.v5i2.6

The Social Media Scourge among University Students: A Study of the University for Development Studies, Ghana
Tuurosong, D. and Amadu, M.F. 2014. The Social Media Scourge among University Students: A Study of the University for Development Studies, Ghana. Journal of Asian Development Studies. 3 (2), pp. 62-74.

Attitude towards Marriage and Family Formation among Ghanaian Tertiary Students: A Study of University for Development Studies
Baataar, C.K.M and Amadu, M.F. 2014. Attitude towards Marriage and Family Formation among Ghanaian Tertiary Students: A Study of University for Development Studies. Journal of Asian Development Studies. 3 (2), pp. 122-134.

Ethical Violations in Press Coverage of 2012 Elections
Tuurosong, D and Amadu, M. F 2014. Ethical Violations in Press Coverage of 2012 Elections. International Journal of Social Sciences and Entrepreneurship. 1 (9), pp. 322-338 Vol.1 Issue 9.

Permalink - https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/qz8q6/commodification-of-development-programming-on-radio-in-northern-ghana


Share this

Usage statistics

85 total views
0 total downloads
These values cover views and downloads from WestminsterResearch and are for the period from September 2nd 2018, when this repository was created.