The National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) wants more attention on environmental issues in the media space.
Deputy Chairman, Finance and Administration od the Commission, Kathleen Addy said there is over-concentration on sensational political stories.
“One of the issues we should discuss today, it’s the unfortunate death of diversity or specialisation in the practice of journalism?
“How many newsrooms today can boast of a vibrant environmental desk or a journalist specialising in environmental governance?” she quizzed.
“Yet we know there are burning issues in this sector from galamsey to deforestation and rapidly emerging concrete jungles that now characterize our major cities,” she observed.
Speaking at the 2020 media advocacy workshop for the middle zone in Kumasi, she urged the media to find innovative ways of meeting public interest.
“It’s not one day thing. Attention span continue to diminish. Positions stories to get public attention. Your story telling skills, your alliances help to push your stories forward,” she said.
Executive Director, Media Foundation for West Africa, Suleimana Braimah believes it’s crucial for an enhanced media sensitization on climate change.
“In Ghana, we are not hearing a lot of conversation taking place about this particular threat that confronts all of us,” he observed.
The workshop was held under the theme: Effective public education on environmental governance and amendment of relevant constitutional provisions in relation to anti-corruption laws: The role of the media.
Former director, Legal Aid Commission, Yahaya Al-hassan charged the media to collaborate to expose acts of corruption.
“The media should not go to sleep after a report is made,” he said.
Participants from Bono East, Bono, Ashanti, Oti, Western North and Ashanti were taken through legal reporting. Environmental reporting, programming, feature and article writing.
The programme was supported by the European Union under the Accountability, Rule of law and Anti-corruption programme.