By Diana Awo DORCOO
Teshie – 14 December, 2018.
‘It is as it is,’ my colleague Akosua Agyepong will always intone when some moments of reflection come up.
Then we shall burst into laughter or engage in some animated discussion of the real nature of what we are getting ourselves into.
‘It is as it is’, is Akosua Agyepong’s punchline for the Pre-Vas TV news christened NEWS AS IT IS.
Training for the news team has been very tough. It is characterised by being called at unscheduled hours for meetings.
But, looking back, it is what it is – the COALITION OF THE WILLING – as our head of news (HON) calls us.
Training is of utmost importance to every media house, not least Pre-Vas Television that has decided to work with novices and near novices, to sustain a discerning audience in a highly competitive media environment.
Our news team training is a session where ideas are shared and developed into a well-crafted, accurate manner to benefit society.
It is designed to attain the three major objectives of the media, that is, to inform, to entertain and to educate.
Pre-Vas Television has come to stay with a vibrant team of players who are enthusiastic and work with passion.
It is in the interest of mother Ghana and the world that Pre-Vas TV puts in adequate training for her news crew.
‘Local content, global audience’, Isaac Ato Mensah, managing consultant for Writers and Shakespeares Ghana Limited and acting head of news (HON) often repeats during the training sessions. ‘That is our marketing philosophy.’
Pre-Vas Television has a diversified news team to foster unity and peace across Ghana. I am Diana Awo Dorcoo; being trained to bring you on-air news in English and Ewe.
You will have to forgive my heavy Ewe accent for English news; I am working hard at reducing it to the barest minimum.
I am happy that the criteria for selection is unique – one of its kind – appropriately reflected in the group name COALITION OF THE WILLING.
The HON has never asked anybody to submit a CV or certificate; you just have to prove yourself.
If you are reading this and you want to be a news stringer from any part of all the seven continents of the earth and even from outer space, please feel free to contact Writers and Shakespeares Ghana Limited.
Our editorial policy which is still being drafted is designed to ease the tensions and frustrations that have become routine experiences in most media and social interactions.
It is summarised in the catchphrase “NO POLITICS, NO RELIGION”.
There shall be absolutely no political affiliations, hence the need to provide an in-house orientation to position the news team to take off properly.
Our orientation programme emphasises the need for brand image and brand identity building to be taught and imbibed not only by the news team, but by every one associated with us, including stringers, presenters and the production teams of all programmes.
The training has unearthed many surprises; many persons who previously thought they could do a local language only are now rehearsing in English.
It’s an amazing experience in the newsroom.
Please feel free to come to Pre-Vas TV to watch our rehearsals, but with no noise making.
Many have been embarrassed and even abandoned ship when they were scolded for wrongful behaviour.
It is what it is…….Pre-Vas TV; nothing but the truth.
Editorial consultants; Writers and Shakespeares Ghana Limited (www.writersghana.com).
An earlier version of this article was published on 5 December, 2018 on www.prevastv.com.
Writers and Shakespeares Ghana Limited exists to be a moral and intellectual guide to the best practice of PR and integrated communications around the world, beginning with Ghana.