Traditional media must stay relevant – CNN Journalist
Traditional media have to double up efforts to remain relevant to their subscribers in the face of stiff competition from Social and New Media.
Mr David Gurien, Senior Writer from the Cable News Network (CNN) of the United States (U.S.) gave the advice on Monday when he led a two-member US delegation on a familiarisation visit to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Accra.
The delegation is in the country primarily for the Editor’s Forum scheduled for August 27 in Accra. It is being organised under the auspices of the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA).
Mr Gurien observed that it was becoming increasingly difficult for newspapers to survive in the US due to the Internet revolution.
He said the situation had brought about the influx of social and online media which enabled people to either download or uploaded news/information, pictures and videos.
He stated that in contemporary times many people found it more convenient to go to the internet to seek information rather than go out to buy newspapers or other publications.
Mr Gurien added, however, that traditional media also had their strengths, especially in the area of local news content, and that operators of traditional media needed to re-strategise to survive in the wake of shrinking resources and stiff competition.
The other member of the team, Ms Susan Ledford, who is Night Editor of the Tallahassee Democrat, a corporate newspaper, also called for diversification in news service delivery if the traditional media are to stay relevant in the era of modern journalism and technology.
Dr Bernard Otabil, General Manager of the GNA, gave the delegation a brief history of the Agency and said the organisation was rolling out business modules as value addition to its core news service delivery.
These, he said, included the GNA Advertiser, a public advertising activity, and GNA mobile application where customized news service would be delivered to subscribers through mobile telephony.
Dr Otabil pledged management’s commitment towards harnessing technology to make the Agency more relevant in the production of credible and timely news.
Source: GNA