State-Owned Newspapers and Development in Ghana

Abstract

The study examines the role of the state-owned newspapers in the development agenda of Ghana. It looks at the coverage of developmental issues by focusing on the Millennium Development Goals (MGGs) and their targets as the units of analysis. The two State-owned newspapers in Ghana, the Daily Graphic and the Ghanaian Times, were sampled. In all 31 editions for the year starting January 1, 2010 December 31, 2010 of each newspaper was systematically sampled and analysed using qualitative content analysis. The editors of the two newspapers were also interviewed and analysed using discourse analysis. The findings reveal the Daily Gruphic and the Ghanaian Times newspapers were able to give more than 10% of space to the MDOs. However, more needs to be done in order to achieve the most of the MDGs. Most of the published stories were not given prominence - more than 900/0 of the stories were placed on inside pages. Some of the MOO goals especially that of child mortality and maternal health had less than 20/0 of the total MDO stories published. The newspapers failed to facilitate discourse which will promote development to the benetit of the governed and the governors. They highlighted a strong correlation between their operations and the commercial value of the stories they publish.