Assessing the Perceived Impact of U.S Embassy’s ‘Edward Murrow’ Exchange Program on Ghanaian Journalists

Abstract

This study examined the impact of the United States of America’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), particularly the Edward Murrow Exchange program on five (5) identified Ghanaian journalists who participated in the exchange program. Using the qualitative method in data collection and analysis, specifically in-depth interviews and content analysis, this study conducted five (5) in-depth interviews with Ghanaian journalists who took part in the exchange program. Grounded within the Social Responsibility Theory, this study explored the perceived impact of Edward Murrow Exchange program on the journalism profession in Ghana. Diplomacy amongst countries, also known as international relations has been institutionalized by way of establishing institutions within counterpart countries. For instance, the relationship between Ghana is facilitated by the U.S. Embassy in Ghana and the Ghana Embassy in the USA. Findings indicate that all participants noted significantly, the impact of the Edward Murrow Exchange on their professional capabilities as journalist as well as their media organizations in general. This study also realized that there is a strong demand for the duration of the exchange program to be extended beyond the current three (3) weeks.