[ 2014-10-08 ]

Frankly Francisca: Hosting Joy FM Midday News
Presenting any programme on JOY FM, Ghana’s
leading English language radio cannot be an easy
task for anyone. I’m yet to meet anyone with
that view. When it comes to news – it’s
serious business just like all the other
programmes on your Super station. From the days of
ace anchor Matilda Asante to the tops-turvy
edition with former Accra police PRO DSP Freeman
Tettey, presenting news on Joy FM is challenging.


So why is that so? Some say it’s the magnitude
of the platform, others say it’s the discerning
listeners’ unpardonable desire for quality.
Whatever the reason is I can only say it is a
privilege and an opportunity to work at JOY fm and
of course Multimedia Group.

From my days at JOYfm as an intern to a reporter,
I have worked with some world class professionals
who have rubbed off me consciously or not. A key
learning that has run through almost all of these
interactions has been to never stop learning. I
have come to understand failure begins when you
stop learning. You must learn something every
day.

Hosting the Joy Midday News came to me
unexpectedly in a conversation I’d rather say
little or nothing about. (I’ll leave that for
some other time) Almost four months into the job
and I can write a whole thesis about the
experience. You see, it’s not just about reading
the news, but as anchor you’re the voice of your
news team which is the voice of the citizenry.

So the question then is how do you fuse all of
these into that personality sitting behind the
microphone? This can be daunting when you have to
manage that every day with an audience beyond the
borders of Ghana. It makes sense why people get
shivers when a microphone is pointed at them.

Well for this young journalist it has been and
still is Jesus who has kept me going. I’m
blessed with a great family which supports me.
Plus a world class team of professionals whose
contributions to the bulletin daily unleashes in
me this wild animal ready to devour. Presenting
the Midday news has drawn me closer to my
colleague news makers and this rapport can only be
a recipe for success.

There have been key learnings in leadership coming
alongside. I’ve learnt to keep growing. I have
had some interesting interviews – in no special
order- ACP Awuntogbe Awuni (MTTD), Dr Amoako Baah
(political science lecturer), Kwesi Amissah Arthur
(Vice president) and just recently a member of
National Service Board over payroll fraud
uncovered. Some of these were tough, perhaps the
interviewees were difficult or I may have been
aggressive.

What is important is learning lessons for the
future. Reflecting on my work is part of my daily
ritual. The questions- what if, could it, what/how
about, why not, etcetera I’ll continue to mull
over them. Oh yes I cannot leave out feedback and
comments from wonderful listeners directly to me
or virtually through social media have helped a
great deal.

This has been my experience so far hosting Joy
Midday News. The learning process can't really
ever stop. But like enthusiastic Asamoah Gyan, no
matter your previous experience, no matter how bad
your day was, you have to get up and get ready to
take that penalty again.

Thanks to God, my family, team Joy and you- I will
take today's penalty too. Xoxo

Source - Francisca Kakra Forson

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