Media Manipulation Threatens Press Freedom and Public Trust Worldwide

Across the globe, media organizations are facing unprecedented threats as political interference and manipulation reach alarming levels. The 2024 World Press Freedom Index published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) documents a growing hostility toward journalists, with governments and powerful economic actors increasingly attempting to control information flow at the expense of public interest.

This manipulation is steadily eroding public trust in media institutions. According to a 2022 Afrobarometer survey conducted by the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana), only 40 percent of Ghanaians trust their media to report fairly and independently—a deeply troubling statistic that questions the media’s effectiveness as society’s watchdog and the Fourth Estate.

Ghana’s 1992 Constitution specifically addresses media freedom in Chapter 12, with Article 162(3) prohibiting impediments to establishing private press outlets. The provision states: “There shall be no impediments to the establishment of private press or media; and in particular, there shall be no law requiring any person to obtain a licence as a prerequisite to the establishment or operation of a newspaper, journal or other media for mass communication.”

While this constitutional protection was designed to promote media pluralism and independent journalism, it has inadvertently allowed politically connected individuals and business moguls to establish media agencies that serve partisan agendas rather than public interest. The result is a landscape dominated by media conglomerates with outlets subtly or openly aligned with political or corporate patrons.

Many Ghanaian journalists now find themselves caught in a professional dilemma—torn between upholding their ethical responsibility to serve the public and navigating the pressures of ownership biases, editorial interference, and economic survival. This tension has fostered self-censorship in some cases and sensationalism in others, undermining freedom of expression and democratic discourse.

A senior journalist remarked that while serving the public interest remains journalism’s core mandate, fulfilling that duty has become increasingly difficult. “We strive to meet society’s need for accurate, fair, and responsible journalism,” he said, “but a major challenge we face today is the growing influence of media owners.” These owners have recognized the power of media and entered the space not to uphold journalistic values but to advance personal, political, or business interests.

Francis Kokutse, a veteran journalist with over four decades of experience, emphasized the critical importance of public interest journalism in a functioning democracy. “Public interest journalism is that aspect of media work that serves the public good,” he explained. “It involves holding individuals, governments, corporate entities—and increasingly, non-governmental organizations—accountable through investigative reporting and scrutiny.”

Kokutse noted a troubling trend where powerful groups actively frustrate journalists committed to public interest reporting. “Those behind this manipulation understand the media’s power to shape opinion and perception,” he observed. Government officials, politicians, corporations, and even NGOs now engage in subtle manipulation tactics—from selective sound bites and skewed data to emotionally charged narratives that mask the truth.

He cited the systematic campaign to discredit investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas as a prime example. “Some individuals have worked tirelessly to vilify Anas, questioning his methods to the point where even a court has passed judgment on his investigative approach,” Kokutse said. “Today, many view his work with suspicion—not because of the content, but because of the manipulation of public perception.”

This erosion of trust isn’t merely theoretical. Michael, a trader, shared how he lost faith in media after witnessing an event firsthand only to hear a completely distorted version broadcast later. “The way they reported the event was twisted, it didn’t reflect what actually happened,” he recounted. “Since then, I’ve stopped listening to the radio. I feel like the media no longer serves our interest.”

South African journalist Kirtan Bhana observed that “dilemma and journalism are made for each other,” noting that tension within a story often gives rise to multiple angles and emotional depth. He emphasized that public interest stories should present balanced perspectives, likening journalistic balance to the Yin and Yang principle of ancient China.

If media is to reclaim its role as a trusted pillar of democracy, a renewed commitment to editorial independence, ethical journalism, and balanced ownership structures is essential to ensure true media pluralism. The public deserves a media that informs, educates, and holds power accountable, rather than serving as a mouthpiece for powerful interests.

Karl Marx once argued that in a capitalist society, media becomes a commodity produced mainly for profit and controlled by the wealthy few. Today, we see this manifested as elites use media to manipulate public opinion while journalists and content creators do the work that allows media owners to reap profits and shape content to serve their agendas.

As Kokutse warns, if these trends continue unchecked, public interest journalism may be silenced, allowing harmful policies to go unchallenged. While journalists strive to serve the public interest, media owners must refrain from editorial interference to ensure newsrooms can effectively uphold democratic principles of press freedom, accountability, and human rights protection.