The School of Information and Communication Studies has organized a seminar on the theme “US Journalism’s Disruption and Democracy in the Digital Age”. It was delivered by Professor Dorothy Bland, a professor of Journalism at the University of North Texas, USA.
Professor Dorothy Bland
Professor Bland shared insights about the media in the United States and its gate-keeping roles. She highlighted how the various forms of media have contributed towards democratic systems in the United States. In pointing out the relevance of digital media, Prof. Bland emphasized that the ease of access to information and news from around the world is due to the driving force of digital journalism. She also establish that the major contributions of digital journalism have helped people appreciate and understand events that are happening in various countries around the world without necessarily being present. She attributed this to the sudden rise in the blogging and vlogging form of journalism. Despite the advantages of the digital media, Professor Bland detailed some negative effects of digital media. One of these negative effects is the emergence of what has come to be known as “Fake News” which dominated the media space in the United States during the 2016 Presidential Election.
Cross Section of Participants
Participants also contributed to the discussion, highlighting the similarities and differences between Ghana and the United States with regards to traditional and digital journalism and their contributions to democracy in both countries. The seminar was attended by students and faculty, as well as stakeholders in the media and communication industry in Ghana.
Questions and Answers