A credible information reaching theoverseeronline.com indicates that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has opted not to fly its affiliated media houses to Tamale for the upcoming campaign launch on July 27, 2024.
This decision has sparked discontent among pro-NDC journalists who feel undervalued by the party they support.
Historically, the NDC has been criticized for not sufficiently acknowledging the efforts of journalists who help propagate its messages and agenda. Unconfirmed reports suggest that instead of involving its own media outlets, the party plans to spend money hiring other media houses considered to be neutral to cover the event.
An anonymous communication officer within the NDC mentioned that the party has a significant number of pro-NDC media houses, making it logistically and financially challenging to accommodate all of them. This has only added to the dissatisfaction among the party’s loyal journalists.
This issue isn’t new. Prior to the 2020 elections, there were grievances that pro-NDC media houses did not receive payments for advertisements aired on their platforms, while media houses perceived as neutral were compensated generously. Such practices have left many pro-NDC journalists feeling ignored and disrespected.
The brewing frustration was echoed by a concerned pro-NDC journalist who expressed disappointment, stating, “NDC never recognizes the work we do for them as journalists, and I won’t be surprised if NDC abandons us when going to Tamale and NDC that I know will have a huge budget for media .
This sense of neglect and lack of appreciation from the NDC towards its supporting media houses could potentially strain the relationship between the party and the journalists who have been pivotal in disseminating its messages. The party’s decision on media arrangements for the Tamale campaign launch may have lasting implications on its rapport with the press.