The journalistic aim in Ghana : A qualitative study of Ghanaian journalists’ desire to be the voice of the voiceless and how media owners affect the journalistic work

The bachelor thesis ‘The journalistic aim in Ghana” is a study of what aims Ghanaian journalists have with their work. Furthermore it explores if the professional identity of journalists differ depending on if they work for state or privately owned newspapers. The bachelor thesis also looks at how Ghanaian journalists use ethics in their work and how media laws have affected journalism in Ghana. In total 20 interviews have been made of which 10 are presented. The result of the bachelor thesis shows that the journalists interviewed all expressed an urge to help develop the country of Ghana and to speak for the people who are marginalized in the country. This study shows that the aims of the journalists are the same, no matter whom they work for and that the workplace is chosen for other reasons such as job security. The journalist say media laws did not affect them, but they were careful in their reporting. The study also reveals that the state media sometimes becomes the mouthpiece of the government and that journalists working for privately owned newspapers have greater liberties to choose what to write about