Social Media tools Ghanaian Journalists overlook
The impact of technology has ever more been felt in the evolution of media and journalism such that no one can faithfully do justice to it in descriptive terms. Technology is advancing and in its wake, journalism has experienced some dynamic re-modifications. Digitization of media (Social media, blog hosting services, video tubes) have created a dichotomy in media; so we have the Traditional Media and New Media. Nana Essifie-Conduah (an Ace media trainer and political historian) established in a lecture at the African University College of Communication (AUCC) that, media is expected to adopt technology to adapt (Adopt, Adapt or Dies) however, “the media is seen playing catch up with technological advancement” he said.
This observation of the media is self evident in the current human resource employment trend in Ghana's media industry. Just when the trend shows that social media is the first point most Ghanaian youth get their news, media organizations are seen employing social media “power users” or influencer to manage their social media. You see young people hand you business cards that reads “Social Media Strategist”; that is definitely reassuring. But the underlining fact is that the media in Ghana is always late to join the bandwagon of media technology advancements.
For that, here are five social media tools some journalist in Ghana overlook and how they could augment the functions of the journalist.
Smart Phone Reporting
Let me set the stage, at this point by mentioning an innovation in media reporting called Smart Phone Journalism which I came across last year learning from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Academy website. It was marvelous to see how simple tools we took for granted was used to bring pertinent news to the audience and decision making bodies.
With the increasing finacial constrains on media, firms cannot give every journalist the fancy new tools for reporting. The BBC's Natalia Aneteleva recorded an entire documentary on an Iphone. It was rumored that the first picture taken of the Libyan Uprising was taken with an IPhone after all media gadgets for news were confiscated by the Libyan officials at the time. This happens to be the first social media tools most Ghanaian journalist (or I dare say all Ghanaian journalist including me) carelessly overlook. The simple advise is that media houses must agree on a common standard concerninb the content quality. Journalist ought to receive a little training on smart phone journalism as well.
Live TV reporting with Google Hangout
Reporting breaking news, live, is quite rare in Ghana. The closest we enjoy is a live telecast of an events, but when it comes to breaking news, there is rarely a live, on-the-spot, report. Some media houses use ingenious ways like a live telephone interview - for instance - to report live. I must say, for TV audience, it is appealing to see live images along with the voice of the journalist. It has a way of evoking the emotions of the event more than an audio narrative would. That is why Video messaging/ streaming service of some social media platform comes in. For this article, I would suggest Google Hangout. With a laptop or a Tablet computer, an ingenious journalist could bring the much needed enthusiasm into Live reporting in Ghanaian Television by using Google Hangout streaming services. This is not entirely new. AJ Streams from Aljazeera Network adopts video streaming services on its show to interview guests. The only catch is that broadband service ought to greatly improve but I can easily suggest a perfect network service. Other tools that could be use includes Facebook Live, Skype, Periscope, Vine or Vimeo.
This observation of the media is self evident in the current human resource employment trend in Ghana's media industry. Just when the trend shows that social media is the first point most Ghanaian youth get their news, media organizations are seen employing social media “power users” or influencer to manage their social media. You see young people hand you business cards that reads “Social Media Strategist”; that is definitely reassuring. But the underlining fact is that the media in Ghana is always late to join the bandwagon of media technology advancements.
For that, here are five social media tools some journalist in Ghana overlook and how they could augment the functions of the journalist.
Smart Phone Reporting
Let me set the stage, at this point by mentioning an innovation in media reporting called Smart Phone Journalism which I came across last year learning from the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) Academy website. It was marvelous to see how simple tools we took for granted was used to bring pertinent news to the audience and decision making bodies.
Live TV reporting with Google Hangout
Reporting breaking news, live, is quite rare in Ghana. The closest we enjoy is a live telecast of an events, but when it comes to breaking news, there is rarely a live, on-the-spot, report. Some media houses use ingenious ways like a live telephone interview - for instance - to report live. I must say, for TV audience, it is appealing to see live images along with the voice of the journalist. It has a way of evoking the emotions of the event more than an audio narrative would. That is why Video messaging/ streaming service of some social media platform comes in. For this article, I would suggest Google Hangout. With a laptop or a Tablet computer, an ingenious journalist could bring the much needed enthusiasm into Live reporting in Ghanaian Television by using Google Hangout streaming services. This is not entirely new. AJ Streams from Aljazeera Network adopts video streaming services on its show to interview guests. The only catch is that broadband service ought to greatly improve but I can easily suggest a perfect network service. Other tools that could be use includes Facebook Live, Skype, Periscope, Vine or Vimeo.
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