Audiences’ Perceptions of Akan News Embellishment: A Study of Urban and Peri-Urban Audiences in Kumasi.

Abstract

This study explored urban and peri-urban Kumasi audiences’ perceptions of the use of literary devices such as proverbs, humour, drama, and euphemisms in the presentation of Akan news. The use of these devices in local news presentation is perceived to embellish the news and challenge professional news delivery standards. Underpinned by the uses and gratification and symbolic interactionism theories, the study surveyed 160 people from eight urban and peri-urban localities in Kumasi to ascertain their perceptions. Findings indicate that both urban and peri-urban audiences were aware of the literary devices used in the presentation of Akan news. While respondents approved the use of devices such as proverbs and drama, they were less accommodating of others such as euphemisms. For example, respondents from both urban and peri-urban Kumasi strongly agreed that proverbs project aspects of Akan culture and therefore recommended their use in the news broadcasts irrespective of the broadcast content meeting general news standards or otherwise. Additionally, respondents were of the view that the use of drama in Akan news broadcast did not trivialize the news content as generally perceived in professional circles. In general, respondents from urban and peri-urban Kumasi are aware of the use of literary devices in the presentation of Akan news.