DEPUTY Presidential Spokesperson, Madam Shamima Muslim, has called on Ghana’s private newspaper industry to rebuild public trust, embrace digital innovation, and adapt storytelling methods to stay relevant in the fast-evolving media landscape.
Delivering the keynote address at the swearing-in of newly elected executives of the Private Newspaper and Online Public Sector Association (PRINPAG), Madam Muslim encouraged journalists to reflect on the growing public disinterest in traditional news.
“I hear from friends that they avoid the news because it makes them sad or anxious,” she said. “Many now find comfort in binge-watching TV series or scrolling endlessly on TikTok. So how do we build trust in an untrusting world?”
As a Journalist, she urged the media to evolve their narrative structures to focus on constructive journalism and inclusive storytelling. “If your audience is on TikTok, how do you bring your content there? How do you animate your journalism for the platforms where people actually are?”
Representing the President of Ghana and the Minister for Presidential Communications, Hon. Felix Kwakye Ofosu (MP), she congratulated the newly elected PRINPAG National Executives, led by David Sitsope Tamakloe, and applauded the outgoing team for their courage and service.
“The easiest thing is to lament and criticize. The hardest is to step forward and lead, especially through elections. Leadership is not easy, and those who have served must be celebrated,” she noted.
On the industry’s financial challenges, she stressed that relevance is now a survival strategy. “It’s not just about money. If people don’t find you relevant, they won’t invest their attention or resources in your content. You either innovate or die.”
Held in Accra, the ceremony brought together both veteran and younger media stakeholders. Madam Muslim’s remarks served as a wake-up call for the industry, urging transformation grounded in creativity, service, and digital adaptation.
Source: Nationaltymes.com
