African language journalism in Ghana and the quest for quality and sustainable broadcast journalism

Abstract

The use of indigenous language by the media (print or broadcast) creates a significant opportunity for citizens to access information and participate in both media and national discourse, which has the potential of enhancing socio-political, economic and cultural developments. However, there has been a decline in indigenous language journalism across the African continent, which raises a critical issue about the sustainability of African language media and the possible impact this can have on citizens’ development. As there have been few studies that have examined African language journalism in relation to their sustainability, this chapter examines the issue of quality journalism in African language media using Peace FM as a case study. Using interviews with media practitioners and a review of policy documents, we investigate how the radio station has approached quality journalism and sustainability in the competitive and diverse media environment of Ghana.