President of Ghana Table Tennis Association and Marketing/ Communications Manager of Stanbic Mr. Mawuko Afadzinu has charged sports journalists to demonstrate excellence in their work as they demand from athletes and officials.
Mr. Afadzinu, president of Institute of Public Relations (IPR) and former lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Journalism was speaking at the 3rd Betway/SWAG Sports Journalists Conference at the Best Western Hotel in Takoradi where over 60 sports journalists from Western Region and Western North attended.
Mr. Afadzinu speaking on “The Impact of Media on Sports”, said sports journalist are the transition between a powerful platform and powerful sentiments. He indicated that sports journalists bring like-minded people together so the principle of the athlete for success must be the guide for the journalist hence admonishing sports journalists to invest in their craft just like the athlete.
He revealed that the major challenge for the development and promotion of sports in Ghana is innovation and funding. He therefore challenged Federation heads to be very innovative in creation compelling content and tapping into the necessary contacts to raise investment for their respective sports.
Mr. Afadzinu concluded by saying “the confluence of sports and media, an outcome that few can match” hence the need for stakeholder engagement.
On his part, Mr. Michael Oti Adjei, General Manager-Digital at Media General charged sports journalists to consider major tournament as major career landmarks and not time for leisure thus admonished sports Journalists to adequately prepare for sports events whatsoever. He encouraged to have a long-term planning and preparations, research wide before embarking on the coverage of sports events.
Mr. Oti Adjei advised sports Journalists especially the younger ones, to make it a point to dress decently all the times, while encouraging them to seek opportunities in education to develop and enhance their career.
He emphasized that marketing your talent as a journalist is a constant job hence there’s no shame to in promoting yourself as a journalist.
In his submission, Mr. Kwabena Yeboah apprised sportscasters, particularly the younger ones to concentrate on building a solid and resound brand that will generate huge income in future, and not necessarily concentrating and focusing solely on money as reasons for pursuing sports Journalism.
He was of the conviction that, “a resounding brand pays hugely in future” and must be the objective and priority of the young sports Journalists.
The Sports Journalists Conference is a collaboration by The Sports Writers’ Association of Ghana (SWAG) and the leading sports betting company in Ghana, Betway with President of SWAG, Kwabena Yeboah, Michael Oti Adjei of Media General, Mawuko Afadzinu who is the President of Institute for Public Relations and Charles Osei Assibey, a renowned broadcaster and President of the Ghana Armwrestling as speakers.
Participants received certificates of participation and other complimentary gifts from Betway and SWAG.
Source : www.swagghana.com
