THE IMPORTANCE OF TELEVISION IN OUR MODERN SOCIETY

THE IMPORTANCE OF TELEVISION IN OUR MODERN SOCIETY

The thinking that television is doing more harm than good to the modern society is clear indication of narrow mindedness. I may sound conclusive and harsh but please permit me to air my views to erase the wrong impression people have been creating in recent times wherein television is said to be a nuisance in today’s society.

Television I will say is an electronic medium through which information is disseminated to the public, hence one cannot in anyway underestimate its usefulness.

 That some of the pictures shown on the television do not whims and caprices of just a fraction of the populace who are trumpeting that it is doing more harm than good is myopic, to say the least. They are simply not abreast with time. Also the inappropriateness of the times for certain programmes as some people say is not justified, since “one man’s meat is another man’s poison”. A night trader or worker would always desire to watch all good programmes in the day while it is the wish of the day worker to have the programme watched in the evening.

Television today has brought about a lot of education to the homes of many Ghanaians. In the comfort of one’s home, he watches and studies events around the world. Depletion of the forest i which is so rampant in our time is being addressed through cartoon shows and organisation seminars. From these educational programmes, we learn about the rate at which depleting our forests and the dangers it poses to us. Not only that, but also we are shown means by which we can re-plant trees to remedy the situation.

For those who abhor visiting public places of entertainment, television has come to solve their problems. “Music music” is one programme that gives good music to many such people. What about “trotro”, “Efiewura”, “in the name of love”, “sports highlight”? Just to mention a few. Lessons from these shows are fare reaching. Ironically those who say television is causing harm are the same people who are glued television sets when international soccer matches are being played or when Joshua Clottey or Joseph Agbeko fights. If really television is causing harm why do those who go against it keep them in their rooms? After all they should know that ‘out of sight, out of mind’.

It interests me to draw attention on the international exposure that we get from television. How can we understand the horror and destruction that is left after wars? Don’t these things give us a clue of what our country shall become if we follow such paths? 

Paramount among the advantages of television is the fact that it promotes business to boost the economy of the state through advertisements. Traders and shop owners promote sales on the screens and as well the viewers are given the right to choose among several makes or types of goods and services.

It is my hope that my submission will go a long way to convince those harbouring that school of thought to hail the usefulness of television