The National Media Commission (NMC) has developed a monitoring technology to track media performance, secure the safety of journalists and promote transparency in election coverage.
Known as the Ghana Media Watch App, the technology will also help combat disinformation. It will allow users who download and register to use the App, to report any incidence by way of either sending images, taking videos, recording audios and accompanying text description for such events or incidents.
Briefing AGTV News on the Mobile App, the Executive Secretary of the NMC, George Sarpong, explained that the App is a web App, Mobile App and Content Management System (CMS) designed to enable the general public to capture and submit video, audio, and pictures for submission and analysis.
He stated that all materials submitted through the App are stamped with date, time and Global Positioning System(GPS) location.
Benefits
Touching on the benefits of the App, Mr Sarpong said it will among others safeguard the safety of journalists and broadcasters.
“It is the hope and expectation that the time, date and GPS stamps will make it possible to track incidents of attack, which will be available to the NMC and partners in real time, and direct interlocutors to the exact spot where the attack is taking place for intervention” he explained.
The Executive Secretary said the “GPS could also direct the police to the scene in real time to intervene. The evidence gathered by the system would also be useful in securing justice.”
Other benefits of the App, he further stated include “helping to combat disinformation by matching fake claims of incidents against the reality to expose the falsity of the disinformation.”
Hate speech
On curbing hate speech and incitement, he revealed that the App will permit media content consumers to alert the leadership of the various media associations to intervene quietly in real time where it is alleged that a particular medium is perpetuating hate speech.
He said the Ghana Independent Broadcasters Association(GIBA), the Ghana Journalists Association(GJA), the Private Newspapers and Publishers Association of Ghana(PRINPAG), the regulator, NMC and other stakeholders will be alerted by media content consumers on hate speeches and incitement by any medium in Ghana.
On providing an accurate record of all incidents in the elections the Executive Director said the videos and images of all occurrences taken by users before and at close of polling, including the declaration of results at each polling station will be available to the NMC and its stakeholders.
This he noted will be helpful to media houses doing stories on specific issues or archived for historical analysis.
“The accurate, real-life evidence could also be useful where any dispute arises as to what exactly transpired at any polling station” he added.
Mr Sarpong called on journalists, other professional bodies in the media fraternity and the public to make use of the App in their line of work before, during and after elections as a way of ensuring accurate reportage and promoting the safety of journalists.
