Journalists in the Western North Region have raised concerns over what they describe as unequal access to professional opportunities, calling on relevant institutions, corporate organisations and event organisers to ensure fair representation of media practitioners across the country.
The practitioners say journalists based in the region deserve the same opportunities as their counterparts in Accra and Kumasi, particularly in national assignments, major events, training programmes and other professional engagements that offer exposure and career development.
They argue that despite the important role journalists play in informing the public and promoting development in their communities, media practitioners in Western North are often overlooked when opportunities are being distributed.
One of the concerns raised is the perceived exclusion of journalists from the region from opportunities associated with major international sporting events, including the FIFA World Cup. They contend that while such assignments offer valuable professional exposure, journalists from Western North have not benefited from comparable opportunities.
According to the practitioners, such opportunities can help journalists improve their skills, expand their professional networks and gain experience that strengthens local journalism. They therefore believe that regional media professionals should be considered when selections are made for major assignments.
The practitioners say the situation is particularly painful when journalists from Accra and Kumasi are brought to Bibiani, Sefwi Wiawso and other communities in the region to cover programmes and events, while qualified journalists based in the area feel overlooked.
They argue that local journalists possess first-hand knowledge of their communities, understand local development challenges and maintain close relationships with residents and stakeholders. Their involvement, they say, can strengthen coverage and ensure that local perspectives receive adequate attention.
The concerns have also renewed calls for media houses, government institutions, corporate sponsors and event organisers to adopt more inclusive approaches when selecting journalists for assignments, sponsored trips, workshops and other professional engagements.
The practitioners maintain that equal access does not mean excluding journalists from Accra or Kumasi, but ensuring that journalists in Western North and other regions are not disadvantaged because of where they work. They want selection processes to be transparent and based on relevant criteria, including experience, competence and the nature of the assignment.
They are therefore urging stakeholders to pay greater attention to regional representation and provide journalists in Western North with fair opportunities to contribute to national media coverage. They say addressing the perceived imbalance would promote professional growth, strengthen local journalism and ensure that the region’s media practitioners are not left behind.
