Journalists should focus on religion's relationship with the media

The need for journalists to specialise in religion and media has been underscored by a Professor-cum-Pastor who believes this would enable practitioners to write informatively and authoritatively on religious and spiritual issues in Ghana.

Dr Kwabena Asamoah Gyadu, Professor of Contemporary African and Pentecostal/Charismatic Studies at Trinity Theological Seminary, Legon, called on journalists and students studying journalism to educate themselves on the relationship between religion and the media. “Because religion is an important part of our life, journalists need to specialise in media and religion,” Prof. Gyadu said.

That, he noted, would equip journalists to write accurate, informative educative and entertaining stories and analytical features on religion and spirituality. Thus, doing away with the current situation where media reportage and analyses of religious affairs leave much to be desired.

He made these observations at first public lecture organised by the Centre for Media, Religion and Culture at African University College of Communications (AUCC) held in Accra on the topic: “Charismatic Pentecostalism and the Changing Face of Christianity in Africa.” After tracing the development of Christianity and Pentecostalism in Ghana, he said “the main churches have to lift their game” as the “Charismatic Pentecostalism has become the most influential” in the country in the last three decades.

He stated that the Pentecostal churches were playing an important role in the social life of the country. “That which is shaping the mind of the youth today is the pastor ... Point is that Charismatic Christianity has become very powerful and influential in the country, he stressed.

Prof. Gyadu said the Pentecostal/Charismatic churches are influential because they provide the basic needs of the followers, which he described as “practical salvation.” For him, “siteriological issues” such as fertility, health, unemployment, travel, business, promotions and examinations are catered for by these churches and that keep increasing the number of the followers.

He said the recent phenomenon was “reverse mission” whereby the Charismatic churches in Africa are spreading their tentacles in Europe and the Americas with their messages of experiential salvation. He was, however, disappointed by the difference between belief and practice in some churches.

Prof. Kofi Asare Opoku, Acting President of AUCC and Director of the Centre for Media, Religion and Culture, said the purpose of the public lecture series was to create a deeper understanding of religion and strengthen religious peace and harmony in the country. Prof. Opoku said the series would explore the interface between religion, culture and the media.

He explained that the 'adinkra' symbol of the Centre, “Bi nka bi,” which literally means one must not bite another, signifies peace and harmony in the African cosmos. The Centre is a research and teaching entity dedicated to bringing together scholars, media practitioners, religious functionaries and cultural experts to critically explore the interface between the media, religion and culture in Ghana and Africa as a whole in order to generate knowledge that can lead to a comprehensive understanding of society. Present at the lecture were Mrs Emma Mitchell, a former Minister of State and AUCC council member, and other dignitaries.