In the Media We Trust: The Crave for Media Adjudication on Social and Quasi-Legal Issues in Ghana

Sam Sarpong ()
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Sam Sarpong: University of Central Lancashire

A chapter in Sustainability and Social Responsibility of the Media and in the Media, 2026, pp 167-185 from Springer

Abstract: Abstract ‘Trial by media’ is a popular phrase that has been used against the media for commenting on pending cases. This is often deemed to be the case when the media thoroughly analyse cases just about to be heard or pending before the court. Currently, a novelty ‘media court’ show, made up of lay people, aptly fits this description in Ghana. The shows generally adjudicate on socio-cultural and quasi-legal issues and have continued to attract people from all walks of life. The objective of these shows is partly to circumvent the lengthy court processes and to provide justice for the vulnerable, especially people who feel they cannot have justice at the courts or have socio-cultural issues to deal with as well as the settlement of family or paternity suits. The chapter examines the allure of these shows and also provides a detailed account of why and how the shows operate.

Keywords: Media; Adjudication; ‘trial by media’; ‘Media court shows’; Jurisdiction; Mistrials; Social media; Law courts; Moral issues; Conversational analysis; Justice system; Watchdog role; Fair comments; Legal entitlements; Judicial corruption; Law enforcement; Observations; Theory of symbolic self-completion; Motivation; Curses; Cultural values; Law and morality; Societal issues; Lawyers; Radio stations; Public sphere; Marginalised social groups; Litigation; Problem-solving mechanisms; Freedom of the press (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:csrchp:978-3-032-00086-6_8

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DOI: 10.1007/978-3-032-00086-6_8

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