A Professor at the Department of Communication Studies, University of Ghana, Prof. Audrey Gadzekpo has urged managers of print media houses to find sustainable business model for their newspapers.
She said the reality was that newspapers were struggling to survive especially, with the advent of social media added to the existing pressure from the electronic media.
Prof.Gadzekpo stated on Wednesday at the re-launch of the Wisconsin News, a newspaper produced and published by students of the School of Communication Studies of the Wisconsin International University College (WIUC).
She explained that news aggregation sites had made access to news expedient and less costly, explaining that the internet provides a multimedia platform and makes it more appealing to the consumer.
According to Prof. Gadzekpo, the vulnerability of the newspaper had been on the increase as well as lack of capitalisation, hence“newspapers will have to find the right way to complement their product.”
She said newspapers were good sources of information on history, education and also helps enrich the vocabularies of students, therefore campus newspapers were important because it serves as teaching tool, help students learn how to gather information and give a better understanding of the university community.
Prof Gadzekpo stated that the newspaper would also play a vital role of informing students of events on campus and also hold leadership accountable.
The President of WIUC, Prof. Obeng Mireku said the Wisconsin Newspaper started in 2018 but was folded up due to the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020.
He said there was abundance of news everywhere and that there was the tendency of fake news flooding the internet, therefore there was the need for a reliable and credible source of news.
He encouraged students to cherish the opportunity to sharpen and work on their journalism skills adding that, “do not leave school without writing for Wisconsin news.”
He pledged the support of management, council and the board of the school to revive the newspaper.
The Acting Dean of the School of Communication Studies, MrsBaabaCofie said the school currently has two art studios namely the broadcasting and music studio.
She said the school was focused on providing excellent training to ensure students were market-ready at the end of their programme.
BY JEMIMA ESINAM KUATSINU
