Some definitions of Information Society

The information revolution and the applications of information and communication technologies are fundamental in conceptualizing information society. The concept  has been defined by various authors and writers from different perspective as to how they see it or from the angle from which they see it.

According to Dennis McQuail (1997: 87) in the information society, "information work predominates, and information is the most valuable resource". 

He further notes that the characteristic of information society is an exponential increase in the production and flow of information of all kinds. 

However, one may be forced to ask what information society is?

The following are the definitions as defined by some authors:

1. An information society is a society in which the creation(s), distribution, diffusion, use (of) integration and manipulation of information is a significant economic, political and cultural activity.

(http://www.answers.com/topic/information-society)

2. Information society refers to a situation where information and communication technologies are integrated in industrial production and information dissemination in all fields.

(http://cbdd.wsu.edu/kewlcontent/cdoutput/TR501/page8.htm)

3. Information Society is a term for a society in which the creation, distribution, and manipulation of information has become the most significant economic and cultural activity

(http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci213588,00.html)

For more information on Information Society, its importance and how to well understand the process involved, you can contact me on:

 depat4christ@gmail.com

Compiled by: Allotey Godwin Akweiteh

Journalists should be research assistants for MPs'

Our political leaders and Ghanaians as a whole have not been fair to journalists in the country. Although they browse the newspapers and swap from one radio station or TV station every day for new information they have failed to acknowledge the work of the journalist since they get significant information on a silver platter.

The President of the Republic J.E.A Mills declared during the state of the nations address in parliament that he would see to it that graduates from the polytechnics and universities in the country would be recruited to serve as research assistants for the members of parliament even though they have no place they call their offices.


Well that is thoughtful of the president. Recently, an ultimatum was given to the members of parliament to choose their research assistants from the universities and the polytechnics by the end of August this year. This initiative taken by the government is acknowledged but it has sidelined the main people on which the improvement of the country depends. They are the only people who can bring what is inside out. They are the only ones who can expose the wrong things in the country to the people; the journalist.


The government has not been fair to journalist in the country, student journalist per se.


I am not taking this platform to undermine the prowess of our graduates but to say that journalists can do better!


Its time the government give the mandate to graduate journalist to also prove themselves wealthy of that position.


Journalism schools in the country take students through both theoretical and practical courses which equip them for the task ahead of them. Because the only means of getting information is basically through effective communication, the students are taken through such courses as communication research methods, mass communication, as well as news gathering and other useful causes which modes the student journalist adapt to any condition.


Student journalists because they are young and energetic can go to extreme extent to get any information for the betterment of the nation.


Various research groups that range from Journalist for Human Rights (JHR) Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) students branch all furnish the student journalist the necessary research oriented experience to expose wrongs in the country. No wonder journalists come out with invaluable project works for the progress of the nation.


These things stenciled above are not to blow the horns of journalist for them, in it obvious and I need not say much about it. Our works can talk for us.


If you doubt, you can check the archives of the journalism institutions, project works precisely.


We can risk our lives to different levels to get information since our duty is to inform, educate and entertain.


I want to take this platform to tell the President to consider recruiting journalists as research assistants for the Members of Parliament and by so be doing the National Service.


Graduate journalists are better option and journalists deserve better from Government and the dear people of Ghana.


Allotey Godwin Akweiteh

“KULUULU @ NIMA STATION”

Every day most of us board public transports to and from our workplaces as well as to the marker, stadium, places of interest, tour and the like.
Those who are fortunate to have their own cars are safe because they don’t experience what public transport passengers go through. The only thing they go through is traffic jam in which public transport passengers go through as well.
There is corruption everywhere and even at our lorry stations.
Every one is blaming the politician and the police of being crooks and corrupt. But little did they know that the corruption passion is engraved in every one but it takes those with strong hearts to resist it.
An experience I hard at the Nima lorry station really boasted my moral to stencil this feature article on paper.
I went to the Nima lorry station from a hard days work. I was really anxious to get home early since it has been rumored that Ghana would be playing an international friendly match with the Chipolopolo players of Zambia.
Since the game has already started, I listened to the commentary on my mobile radio whilst I hurried to get to the station in order to board the next available lorry to my house.
On reaching the market, I saw a lot of people at the station and some with huge sacks on their heads. I recalled asking a guy who was helping some of the market women upload their stuffs. I confronted this man and he showed me where my destinations queue was but promised to get me into the next available car if I am anxious to get home early. Well I taught he was just a joker so I left and joined the queue.
I realized that it was a market day.
The queue was not all that long and I countered those in front of me.
They were only 15. I said to myself that when 2 trotro appear, I will be in the latter.
I checked the time and it was half past 6.
I stood in the line as I watched 3 trotro harbored some of the people. I countered again and they were still 15.
All this while, these guys pretending to be helpers get people on board if they settle them with a note Ghana Cedi.
This ridiculous, mambo jumbo, indecent act must stop.
Why should some one join a queue for hours and the other by giving bribes and joins a lorry without joining the queue. It is not good and people must desist from that.
The giver and the receiver are all guilty of the same crime, this is punishable by law and people must desist from it.
Any one who commits this crime is also as guilty as any one who does “sakawa”
This is happening at our lorry stations and must be stopped at once. The MTTU should be up and doing and the so called “Bookmen” should also be up and doing and not only collecting petty monies from the drivers and their mates.
If this is not averted on time, there may be mayhem at our lorry stations and this will not be a good thing to write home even though this will be a good thing to write home about for Journalists.
I know about and I don’t even think this you would wish this to happen.

(depat4christ@yahoo.com)

Every Ghanaian is a saint (1)

Every one in Ghana is a saint, I think
It ranges from women aglow to men aflame
To Hands for Christ and the like
Every one seems to be blaming somebody
For something some one should have done.
A writer once said,
Don’t think about what someone will
Offer you, rather think about what you
Can do for someone
Every one is a doyen
And no one wants to be wrong
Every one seems to know a bit of
Everything and makes one as economist
Would say a “price taker”

As the old Akan saying
“Se wuye wuhu se wa ni ati a, se wuhu aponkye a wube kye a nu”
Wit, if you think you are so wise, you would greet a goat (take it for a human)