I write to air my views on the current debate about the duration of the Senior High School.I believe stakeholders will soon meet and brainstorm on the issue in order to come out with a clear duration for students to take.
As compared to the old system which I had a taste,one can see that the old secondary system had the first five years to do GCE O' Level and additional two years for GCE A'Level certificates.With the old system,students had the opportunity to pass through the system doing several subjects for at least three years.Therefore before a student get to the third year he or she understands what subjects to choose for the final examination.So by doing this they passed and passed well.
But unlike the Senior High School students choose the subjects to be offered at the secondary level knowing that they don't really understand what they are taking.
What we must understand is that two years have been slashed and the additional two years have also been slashed.Therefore I strongly believe if the four year duration is maintain it would be better.Again students must be provided with career counsellors to counsel them on what each course chosen and the profession that matches.Because if care is not taken we would find square pegs in round holes.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Saturday, May 16, 2009
MASS COMMUNICATION ASSIGNMENT
Ghana Institute of Journalism
Diploma One Assignment
Name:Baffuor Owiredu-Amoh
Index Number:DCSM 20210044
Course:Mass Communication
Date:Tuesday 19th May,2009
Question: Compare and Contrast the Libertarian Theory and the Social Responsibility Theory
Media and Communication-Media Information Order Volume 2 which was edited by Mridula Menon and Ved Prakash Gandhi described liberty of the press or press freedom as “Essential to political liberty where men cannot convey their thoughts to one another, no freedom is secure”. This means where freedom of expression exists, there is a free society.
Again two prominent Libertarian philosophers Bruce Itule and Douglas Anderson identified the Libertarian Theory in their book News Writing and Reporting for Today’s Media as “Humans are rational thinking beings capable of separating truth from falsehood, good from evil”. With this media must provide information on variety of topics-particularly government so that citizens can take a stand to make enlightened decisions.
Denis Mcquil viewed the Social Responsibility Theory in Mass Communication Theory Fifth Edition as,”A responsible press provides a fully, truthful, comprehensive and intelligent account of the day’s events in a context which gives them meaning”. This should serve as forum for the exchange of comment and criticism and must be a common carrier of the public expression. It must be vividly deduced from the definitions of the two theories that the media saw themselves as their operations must seek to serve the society in a manner to understanding, happiness and equality among all.
Even though the two theories operate in separate approaches some of their objectives and goals aim at achieving a common purpose. And there are few instances where we see them having some differences to make society either comfortable or uncomfortable. Some identified similarities are as follows;
The media is regarded as a watchdog towards society. This means that with the Libertarian Theory, the media has the freedom and acts as a watchman and protect the public interest and also see to the smooth and efficient running of state machinery. Likewise with the Social Responsibility Theory, the media stands in the position of the society to and work in the society’s interest. Thus checking state machinery and put them on their toes to do the wish of the society. For instance the society expects the media to hold government and its appointees in proper checks.
Again, the two theories uphold truthfulness of information. That is, all of them see objective truth, integrity and disseminating of balanced and fair information in their practice. Therefore they must be fair and balanced in the information they put across for public consumption. Even though the Libertarian Theory operates under no restriction, it sees this as great duty to provide society with objective truth. With this, they are sure of winning public trust.
The two theories see themselves being accountable to society in their operations. Media being accountable to society means knowing what the society wants and giving it to them. Denis Mcquil in his Mass Communication Theory says;” Media should provide a full truthful, comprehensive and intelligent account of the day’s events in a context which gives them meaning”. Media and Communications-New Information Order also quotes the above statement. This means after every day’s work the media must sit, measure and analyze their day’s performance and find out whatever they gave to the public was in their in their interest and if really they were satisfied with it. This evaluation can make them serve the society well in their subsequent products they would manufacture for public consumption. And all these will solely depend on the truthfulness, objectivity, comprehensiveness and for that matter intelligence of the information that went out.
The two theories, the Libertarian and the Social Responsibility Theory also present and give clarification to the goals and values of society. This means the media must not do anything to bring the culture, traditions, customs and beliefs of the people into disrepute. That is the media must assist the society to develop their culture to the best maximum standard. Again if the society wants to engage in any activities in their locality the media must be prepared to assist them either in kind or cash. For instance a community wants to organize clean-up exercise, the media must get involved in the campaign urge everybody to take part in the exercise to make their environment clean. As it ha happened between the media, Zoomlion Ghana Limited and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly in their recently organized clean up exercise within the metropolis. It is also not strange to find some media houses supporting festivals like Abokyer, Odwira, Akwasidae and Bakatue.This makes the society see the media as their major partner in their developmental and cultural programmes.
The Libertarian Theory and the Social Responsibility Theory both hold the view of capital ownership as a form of public trust or stewardship rather than private franchise. This means the means of publications and regulation of economic access and the abuse of monopolistic publishing power. This makes it possible for the society to see it as theirs. Therefore there is no way the government can take monopoly of the press and dictate to them whatever befits him rather than the public interest. Therefore if the media belongs to the state, the government would control and manipulate it to propagate only the government interest and not tat of the society.
Again the two theories have similar standards of gathering information and processing them. Since the two theories give the media the power to serve the society in order to win their trust, their style of obtaining information and disseminating them must be in the public interest. That is, they have to search for information which can make the public happy and very satisfied. That is chasing the good and the rot in society and laying them bare for them to actually know what is pertaining in the society.Again, to alert them to know the attitude and character of the very public officials they elected to govern them. This will make them aware of people who are living within and outside them. The society also expects the media to also use any means to search for information they want and give it them. This is possible, because they are assured of freedom of access to information and coercion to publish. The Social Responsibility Theory also goes by a principle of a supply of information by setting standards. Therefore under no circumstance that the media must fail to provide the public with information they cry for.
By touching some differences between the two theories, we can identify;
With Social Responsibility Theory, the media follow some agreed codes and amount of professional conduct. This is because, the media see themselves as being responsible to society, and therefore it is unwise to provide them information which is substandard, unfair, and imbalanced. Again being part of society whatever they publish or broadcast about the public they must see as affecting them also. For instance, writing or broadcasting on television of a fatal motor accident, the media must consider how the family of people involved in the accident would feel before putting the pictures on air. If it is about reporting on a corrupt public servant, they must also not only think about the person involved but also think the shame and uncomfortable situation and the pain the family would go through. This makes the media see themselves as being responsible towards society.
But unlike the Libertarian theory, since there is restriction and censorship is not applied to untrue stories they publish they don’t consider the just above issue in their operations. They don’t cross-check the facts of the information they get before broadcasting or publishing them. They don’t consider the rate at which the pain of the story can cause to the individual involved or the family.
Again, with the Social Responsibility Theory being part of the society and work in the public interest, they work to unite the society. That is why sometimes we see the media taking charge of social programmes like Joy FM Old Skuul join together forum. We again see some media houses organizing activities that bring people from different political parties, ethinic groups and different cultural background to brainstorm on some issues for the betterment of the society’s interest. These are all forms to unite society and create peace and harmony within the community.
But with the Libertarian Theory, even though they see themselves being responsible for society, it is minimal in this context. This is because the over exaggerated and sensational stories that they publish cause confusion and eventually if care is not taken can cause anarchy in the society. This can be possible because, they don’t cross check their facts before publishing them.
Under the Social Responsibility Theory the government not only allows freedom of the press but also actively promotes freedom. This is because since, there is regulation the media has a boundary to some extent. Therefore it becomes very difficult to infringe upon others’ rights. But with the Libertarian Theory, there are no restrictions; therefore individual rights are frequently abused.
Again with publication and broadcasting, the media sees it as a responsibility to give accurate information to the public. Therefore there is no need to exaggerate, over-emphasize stories. But the Libertarian Theory has allowed our media to have no boundaries in their operations which has therefore resulted in the over-emphasizing and exaggerating stories. We find many newspapers giving sensational headlines in their publications. With the recently developed and approved newspaper review on the various electronic media, some tiny issues are over stretched and giving enough premiums shouldn’t have being the case. Again the introduction of local language broadcasting has also giving some unprofessional newscasters and presenters to over-emphasize and giving some sensational colours to stories which don’t demand that.
The Social Responsibility Theory has self regulation to streamline their operation. This makes the practitioners work within the confines of the law and to the public interest. But the Libertarian Theory does not provide such self regulation measures. They therefore can go beyond what is expected of them and cause destruction and disgrace and problems for individual and societies.
Finally the Libertarian Theory is vague that it doesn’t give a clear cut about who has or benefits from the right to freedom. Whether it gives the right to the proprietor of the house? Whether it gives right to the editors, and journalists and every member of the public? But the social responsibility theory gives a clear indication of the persons that it gives rights to. That is the press, the society, the government and all.
The above discussed similarities and differences clearly outline the conditions under which the media operate.
Diploma One Assignment
Name:Baffuor Owiredu-Amoh
Index Number:DCSM 20210044
Course:Mass Communication
Date:Tuesday 19th May,2009
Question: Compare and Contrast the Libertarian Theory and the Social Responsibility Theory
Media and Communication-Media Information Order Volume 2 which was edited by Mridula Menon and Ved Prakash Gandhi described liberty of the press or press freedom as “Essential to political liberty where men cannot convey their thoughts to one another, no freedom is secure”. This means where freedom of expression exists, there is a free society.
Again two prominent Libertarian philosophers Bruce Itule and Douglas Anderson identified the Libertarian Theory in their book News Writing and Reporting for Today’s Media as “Humans are rational thinking beings capable of separating truth from falsehood, good from evil”. With this media must provide information on variety of topics-particularly government so that citizens can take a stand to make enlightened decisions.
Denis Mcquil viewed the Social Responsibility Theory in Mass Communication Theory Fifth Edition as,”A responsible press provides a fully, truthful, comprehensive and intelligent account of the day’s events in a context which gives them meaning”. This should serve as forum for the exchange of comment and criticism and must be a common carrier of the public expression. It must be vividly deduced from the definitions of the two theories that the media saw themselves as their operations must seek to serve the society in a manner to understanding, happiness and equality among all.
Even though the two theories operate in separate approaches some of their objectives and goals aim at achieving a common purpose. And there are few instances where we see them having some differences to make society either comfortable or uncomfortable. Some identified similarities are as follows;
The media is regarded as a watchdog towards society. This means that with the Libertarian Theory, the media has the freedom and acts as a watchman and protect the public interest and also see to the smooth and efficient running of state machinery. Likewise with the Social Responsibility Theory, the media stands in the position of the society to and work in the society’s interest. Thus checking state machinery and put them on their toes to do the wish of the society. For instance the society expects the media to hold government and its appointees in proper checks.
Again, the two theories uphold truthfulness of information. That is, all of them see objective truth, integrity and disseminating of balanced and fair information in their practice. Therefore they must be fair and balanced in the information they put across for public consumption. Even though the Libertarian Theory operates under no restriction, it sees this as great duty to provide society with objective truth. With this, they are sure of winning public trust.
The two theories see themselves being accountable to society in their operations. Media being accountable to society means knowing what the society wants and giving it to them. Denis Mcquil in his Mass Communication Theory says;” Media should provide a full truthful, comprehensive and intelligent account of the day’s events in a context which gives them meaning”. Media and Communications-New Information Order also quotes the above statement. This means after every day’s work the media must sit, measure and analyze their day’s performance and find out whatever they gave to the public was in their in their interest and if really they were satisfied with it. This evaluation can make them serve the society well in their subsequent products they would manufacture for public consumption. And all these will solely depend on the truthfulness, objectivity, comprehensiveness and for that matter intelligence of the information that went out.
The two theories, the Libertarian and the Social Responsibility Theory also present and give clarification to the goals and values of society. This means the media must not do anything to bring the culture, traditions, customs and beliefs of the people into disrepute. That is the media must assist the society to develop their culture to the best maximum standard. Again if the society wants to engage in any activities in their locality the media must be prepared to assist them either in kind or cash. For instance a community wants to organize clean-up exercise, the media must get involved in the campaign urge everybody to take part in the exercise to make their environment clean. As it ha happened between the media, Zoomlion Ghana Limited and the Accra Metropolitan Assembly in their recently organized clean up exercise within the metropolis. It is also not strange to find some media houses supporting festivals like Abokyer, Odwira, Akwasidae and Bakatue.This makes the society see the media as their major partner in their developmental and cultural programmes.
The Libertarian Theory and the Social Responsibility Theory both hold the view of capital ownership as a form of public trust or stewardship rather than private franchise. This means the means of publications and regulation of economic access and the abuse of monopolistic publishing power. This makes it possible for the society to see it as theirs. Therefore there is no way the government can take monopoly of the press and dictate to them whatever befits him rather than the public interest. Therefore if the media belongs to the state, the government would control and manipulate it to propagate only the government interest and not tat of the society.
Again the two theories have similar standards of gathering information and processing them. Since the two theories give the media the power to serve the society in order to win their trust, their style of obtaining information and disseminating them must be in the public interest. That is, they have to search for information which can make the public happy and very satisfied. That is chasing the good and the rot in society and laying them bare for them to actually know what is pertaining in the society.Again, to alert them to know the attitude and character of the very public officials they elected to govern them. This will make them aware of people who are living within and outside them. The society also expects the media to also use any means to search for information they want and give it them. This is possible, because they are assured of freedom of access to information and coercion to publish. The Social Responsibility Theory also goes by a principle of a supply of information by setting standards. Therefore under no circumstance that the media must fail to provide the public with information they cry for.
By touching some differences between the two theories, we can identify;
With Social Responsibility Theory, the media follow some agreed codes and amount of professional conduct. This is because, the media see themselves as being responsible to society, and therefore it is unwise to provide them information which is substandard, unfair, and imbalanced. Again being part of society whatever they publish or broadcast about the public they must see as affecting them also. For instance, writing or broadcasting on television of a fatal motor accident, the media must consider how the family of people involved in the accident would feel before putting the pictures on air. If it is about reporting on a corrupt public servant, they must also not only think about the person involved but also think the shame and uncomfortable situation and the pain the family would go through. This makes the media see themselves as being responsible towards society.
But unlike the Libertarian theory, since there is restriction and censorship is not applied to untrue stories they publish they don’t consider the just above issue in their operations. They don’t cross-check the facts of the information they get before broadcasting or publishing them. They don’t consider the rate at which the pain of the story can cause to the individual involved or the family.
Again, with the Social Responsibility Theory being part of the society and work in the public interest, they work to unite the society. That is why sometimes we see the media taking charge of social programmes like Joy FM Old Skuul join together forum. We again see some media houses organizing activities that bring people from different political parties, ethinic groups and different cultural background to brainstorm on some issues for the betterment of the society’s interest. These are all forms to unite society and create peace and harmony within the community.
But with the Libertarian Theory, even though they see themselves being responsible for society, it is minimal in this context. This is because the over exaggerated and sensational stories that they publish cause confusion and eventually if care is not taken can cause anarchy in the society. This can be possible because, they don’t cross check their facts before publishing them.
Under the Social Responsibility Theory the government not only allows freedom of the press but also actively promotes freedom. This is because since, there is regulation the media has a boundary to some extent. Therefore it becomes very difficult to infringe upon others’ rights. But with the Libertarian Theory, there are no restrictions; therefore individual rights are frequently abused.
Again with publication and broadcasting, the media sees it as a responsibility to give accurate information to the public. Therefore there is no need to exaggerate, over-emphasize stories. But the Libertarian Theory has allowed our media to have no boundaries in their operations which has therefore resulted in the over-emphasizing and exaggerating stories. We find many newspapers giving sensational headlines in their publications. With the recently developed and approved newspaper review on the various electronic media, some tiny issues are over stretched and giving enough premiums shouldn’t have being the case. Again the introduction of local language broadcasting has also giving some unprofessional newscasters and presenters to over-emphasize and giving some sensational colours to stories which don’t demand that.
The Social Responsibility Theory has self regulation to streamline their operation. This makes the practitioners work within the confines of the law and to the public interest. But the Libertarian Theory does not provide such self regulation measures. They therefore can go beyond what is expected of them and cause destruction and disgrace and problems for individual and societies.
Finally the Libertarian Theory is vague that it doesn’t give a clear cut about who has or benefits from the right to freedom. Whether it gives the right to the proprietor of the house? Whether it gives right to the editors, and journalists and every member of the public? But the social responsibility theory gives a clear indication of the persons that it gives rights to. That is the press, the society, the government and all.
The above discussed similarities and differences clearly outline the conditions under which the media operate.
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