Accra, November 23, 2017//-The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MTN Ghana, Ebenezer Twum Asante has challenged members of the Private Newspaper Publishers Association of Ghana (PRINPAG) to take advantage of the digital space to grow their business.
According to him, by going digital the newspaper publishers could raise more revenues to enable them sustain the business.
Mr Asante threw the challenge when he engaged members of PRINPAG, as part of the telecom company’s lecture series on media digitalisation in the country.
Speaking on the topic: ‘Integration of Digital Channel in 21st Century Journalism Practice’, Mr Asante urged them to seize the opportunities provided by MTN and other telcos to put their news content on the networks.
This he said would enable mobile phone subscribers have access to their news content 24/7.
“With the high penetration of smartphones in the country, I urge you as newspaper publishers to take advantage of the opportunities to go digital. As you aware, 62% of Ghanaian internet users fall within the 18-24 age group. This is a huge market for your business”, he told them.
Mr Asante who is also MTN Vice-President, South and Eastern Africa and Ghana (SEAGHA) was quick to add: “With the increasing digitalisation of information, publishing and media companies across the globe are faced with a challenge”.
“The internet has revolutionised how information is stored, published, searched, and consumed”. The future is all around digitalisation but the ripple effect has spread so wide. So, by going digital will enable the media to change mindsets, among others, Mr Asante stressed.
He said, looking at the way businesses are rapidly shifting from the physical interaction to a more digital space, the business models of the print media must change.
Mr Asante used the occasion to suggest to the newspaper publishers to change their way of news reporting, noting that going digital will afford them the opportunity to add videos (TVs) and audios (radios) to their publications.
As Mr Asante put it: “News reporting styles and approaches need to evolve, circulation of stories using the traditional means has to be looked at, and cost of production could change”.
Additionally, information sources are now widespread and the print media can take advantage of them.
Responding, the Acting President of PRINPAG, Kenteman Nii-Laryea Sowah thanked Mr Asante for opening their eyes to the realities of the digital space.
Meanwhile, a 36-page code of ethics of PRINPAG was launched by the President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA), Affail Monney at the interactive event held at the MTN Ghana headquarters in Accra.
African Eye Report