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By Safia Adams
For almost a decade he worked with top media brands and contributed to news websites. In 2014, he co-founded ghnewsfilla.com to tell fast, accurate, unbiased news. Bernard Ralph Adams is a multimedia journalist and TV personality who describes himself as ‘inquisitive’ and ‘tenacious’. He has worked with Metro TV, Original FM, and myoriginalonline.com. Safia Adams met up for an interview with Mr. Adams who’s currently studying Strategic Communication at African University College of Communications. Following are excerpts.
Safia Adams: What has been the most enlightening experience in your field of work?
Bernard Ralph Adams: There are a number of them but I will settle on the 2020 election coverage. I observed that the media coverage of elections in this country is nothing but a sham. In the 2020 elections, in particular, there were 40,000 polling stations across the country but no media house had enough reporters to cover these stations. The Omni Media Limited-owned Citi FM/TV deployed the highest number of reporters. which was 4,000. What this means is that the media could not report first-hand what was really happening at the various polling centres.
SA: What are the implications of that observation?
BRA: Going forward I will encourage media owners to consider merging resources during election periods. This will be similar to what happened in the USA in 1846. During the Mexican War, five New York City newspapers funded a pony express route through Alabama to bring news faster than the U.S. Post Office could deliver it. These news media shared the news-gathering costs and they mutually benefited from the venture.
SA: Did you always want to be a media person?
BRA: Oral tradition has it that Okomfo Anokye was born holding totem poles believed to be from the gods and he grew up to become a fetish priest. Although my case was miles away from that, I have always known I would ply my trade in the profession of disseminating information. As a child, I’m told I exuded investigative traits and it earned me a moniker. That being said, I will answer in the affirmative and add that journalism is in my DNA. It was just a matter of time.
SA: What is your relationship with your colleagues at work?
BRA: I would say cordial. There’s no bad blood among us. My duties make me the de facto online editor which means, I have to be a team player. From coordinating my internal members to collaborating with the other teams.
SA: Why did you choose to major in strategic communication when journalism has been your passion?
BRA: I get this question all the time. Journalism is my first love. I will always be known as a journalist but I will someday pivot. Life is a process. I’m exploring my options.
SA: Would you recommend AUCC to your colleagues at work who want to further their education?
BRA: A resounding yes. I’m a Lifelong learner and believe in the adage education is the key to success. “Education is one thing no one can take away from you, ” to quote Elin Nordegren. The African University College of Communications has a friendly environment to marry work and school. It is the preferred choice. I will,,,recommend it.