Dare to be different in a heavily stereotyped media environment –Dr Otabil  

 By Daniel NONOR, Accra

Dr. Pastor Mensah Otabil, founder and General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church has challenged Zed Multimedia to dare to be different   in a heavily stereotyped media environment in Ghana, if it wants to succeed.

He said the new media organisation would have to be extremely innovative and excellent to thrive in a media market that has already been defined, to become a media house of choice.

 “You cannot rest one moment because the forces that drive your market are going to try to drive you to follow the general trend that everybody is manifesting “, he stated

To achieve this, he said management and staff of the organisation must be ready to bring on new and innovative ideas and be in a pole position to be able to train themselves to think differently,

“It is possible in an environment where everybody is going one way and for you to go the opposite way and still thrive”, he emphasised.

He noted for example that the media house can decide to start with a totally different set of programming, and to do everything the opposite way from what has come to be known as the winning formula for radio and television in Ghana.

 “There is nothing that says you should have politicians coming to speak on your morning show. You can decide never to invite any parliamentarian or any NDC OR NPP on your show and still be very successful. It is going to be tough but it is still doable “

This he said would require a dedicated staffs that is ready to think outside the box and brainstorm on innovative and sustainable ways to remain relevant.

“It means that your staff have to think and think very hard to brainstorm and figure out new ways of doing things and doing it differently by working so hard at it till people start taking note of it,” he added.

He cautioned   that allowing staff that have a lazy attitude to work and who have already- made solutions to doing things into the organisation is a recipe for disaster.

He was confident that Zed Multimedia would come in as the beginning a new phase of broadcasting in the country.

Zion Hills Multimedia (Zed multimedia), is a dynamic media entity poised for success.

Located at East Legon near America House traffic light, the multimedia company aspires to be a credible mass media outlet dedicated to improving the quality of human lives and serving the public interest.

Zed multimedia comprises several subsidiaries, including The New Finder Newspaper (formerly The Finder Newspaper), Zed 101.9fm radio, Zed TV, Zedonline, and Zed Tech.

The company’s commitment revolves around delivering compelling and high-quality content in the areas of Lifestyle, Leisure, and Business (LLB) across its diverse platforms.

Zed multimedia’s values include professionalism, integrity, diversity, inclusion, innovation, passion, customer orientation, respect for the team, each other, and time, along with a commitment to service to God.

The vision of the multimedia company is to become a global, ethical, and sustainable media of choice, with a mission to stand for excellence in the use of credible mass media to enhance the quality of human lives and serve the public interest.

The primary purpose of Zed multimedia is to provide valuable information to its audience, aligning with its commitment to delivering quality content.

The philosophy emphasizes meeting audience expectations and fostering community engagement.

The launch marks a significant milestone for Zed multimedia as it embarks on its journey to redefine mass media in Ghana, promising a fresh perspective and a commitment to delivering content that resonates with diverse audiences.

Distinguished personalities and dignitaries  who graced the launch included Prof. Kofi Abotsi, a prof. of constitutional and comparative law and the Dean of the UPSA Law School in Accra; James Ebo Whyte, popularly known as Uncle Ebo Whyte, a playwright, author, and motivational speaker and Dr. Pastor Mensa Otabil, Founder and General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church (ICGC).

Others include Cynthia Prah, National Information Officer of the United Nations Information Center (UNIC), and Nana Osafo Kantanka, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Zion Hills Multimedia, who is also a traditional ruler from Akropong in the Eastern Region and communication expert.

The rest are Mark Okraku-Mantey is the Deputy Minister for Tourism Arts and Culture, (MOTAC), Fritz Baffour, former Minister of Information, Member of Parliament and communication consultant, Ministers of the gospel, traditional leaders among others.