Modestus Fosu (Dr.)

Dr. Modestus Fosu

Senior Lecturer

Modestus Fosu is a Senior Lecturer and Dean of the Faculty of Integrated Communication Sciences, Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ), Accra. He holds a PhD in Media and Communication from the University of Leeds. His research interests broadly involve communication/media and language, political participation, and journalism education. 

He has been involved in various local and international projects aimed at improving journalism education and practice in Ghana and Africa. He has currently been focusing on indigenous language broadcasting and its socio-political ramifications.

  • Doctor of Philosophy, Media and Communication
  • M.Phil. English (Language Option)
  • Diploma in Social Media and Journalism
  • Diploma in Education 
  • B. A. (Hons) English
  • University of Leeds, UK.
  • MKFC Stockholm College, Helsinki (Distance E-Learning), Finland
  • University of Ghana, Legon, Accra, Ghana
  • University of Cape Coast, Ghana
  • International Association of Media and Communication Research (IAMCR)
  • Forum of African Media Educators (FAME)
  • Communicators Association of Ghana (CEAG)
  • Ghana Association of Writers (GAW)

N/A

Undergraduate Level Courses Taught:

    • Language and Study Skills
    • English Language Usage
    • Media and Governance
    • Speech Writing and Public Speaking

Masters Level Courses Taught:

    • Ethics and Communication
    • Advanced Public speaking and Presentation

Books (1) 

  • Fosu, M. (2012). Use of Ghanaian English in Kofi Awoonor’s This Earth my Brother … Lambert Academic Publishing 

Refereed Journal Articles (6) 

  • Yeboah, A., Fosu, M. and M. Tsegah, M. (2018). Linguistic complexity and second language advertising audiences: Is there a case for linguistic exclusion? Journal of Communication Enquiry. 42(1). 
  • Fosu, M., (2016). A Linguistic Description of the Language of Ghanaian Newspapers: Implications for the Readability, Comprehensibility and Information Function of the Ghanaian Press. Ghana Journal of Linguistics. 5(1):1-36.  
  • Fosu, M. and Akpojivi, U. (2015). Media convergence practices and production in Ghana and Nigeria: Implications for democracy and research in Africa. Journal of Applied Journalism & Media Studies. 4(2): 277-292. 
  • Fosu, M and Akpojivi, U. (2013) Convergence, Citizens Engagement and Democratic Sustainability in Emerging Democracies: The Case of Ghana and Nigeria. Journal of Mass Communication & Journalism, 3:140.  
  • Fosu, M. (2011). Situating language at the centre of journalism training: The case for broadening the spheres of English teaching and learning in journalism training institutions in Ghana. Global media journal, African Edition. 5(1). Stellenbosch University, S.A. 
  • Fosu, M. (2009). English in tertiary institutions and the issue of falling standards: Expectations, lessons, and challenges. Journal of communications, media & society (JOCMAS). 1(1), Accra: Ghana Institute of Journalism. 

Book Chapters (4) 

  • Akpojivi, U., & Fosu, M. (2020). African language journalism in Ghana and the quest for quality and sustainable broadcast journalism. Salawu, A. (Ed). African Language Media: Development, Economics and Management, 204. 
  • Fosu, M., Quashigah, T. and Kuranchie, P. (2019), “Broaching Agenda for Climate Change in Africa: A Perspective on Media Engagement with Climatic Issues in Ghana“, Pinto, J., Gutsche, R. and Prado, P. (Ed.) Climate Change, Media & Culture: Critical Issues in Global Environmental Communication, Emerald Publishing Limited, pp. 93-111. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-78769-967-020191008 
  • Akpojivi, U. and Fosu, M. (2015). Indigenous radio broadcasting in Ghana: retrospect and prospect. In Indigenous language media, language politics and democracy in Africa. Salawu, A. and Chibita, N. (Eds), London: Palgrave Macmillan.  
  • Akpojivi, U. and Fosu, M. (2014). Challenges and complexities of media regulations: A comparative study of media practices in emerging democracies. In Global media research from East to West. Kuyucu, M. (Ed). Athens Institute for Education and Research. 

Others 

  • Topic: The press and political participation: Newspapers and the politics of linguistic exclusion and inclusion in Ghana Unpublished PhD Thesis, University of Leeds, available from: http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/7167/
  • Media/Communication theory
  • Media/Communication and democratic participation
  • Language and the news
  • Media/Journalism training and education
  • Public communication and ethics
  • Online news and language use, etc.
  • 1st Inter Regional English Language Teachers’ Association Conference: Connecting Teachers with New Methods and Techniques, Mount Meru University, Tanzania. 28 – 30 June, 2018

Paper Presented: Language Teaching and Learning in Communication and Media Training Institutions in Africa: Imperatives, Challenges and Prospects.

  • Conference on English and Communication: Exploring Communicative Competence for the Industry and Academy, Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya, 19 -20 May 2016

Paper Presented: Language use in the media: Negotiating communication competence in a digital era in sub-Saharan Africa.

  • African Studies Association, UK (ASAUK) Conference at the University of Sussex, Brighton, UK from 9 -11 September 2014

Paper Presented: Newspaper Readability and Political Participation in an Emerging Democracy: The Issue of Linguistic Exclusion and Inclusion of the Ghanaian press

  • 11th Annual International Conference on Communication and Mass Media, at the Athens Institute for Educational Research from 13-16 May 2013, Athens, Greece. Joint Paper with Akpojivi, U.

Paper Presented: Challenges and Complexities of Media Regulations: A Comparative Study of Media Practices in Emerging Democracies.  

  • Cadbury Conference at the Department of African Studies and Anthropology, University of Birmingham, UK from 17-18 May 2013

Paper Presented: The Press, Political Participation and Newspaper Readability: The Issue of Linguistic Exclusion and Inclusion in Ghana

  • World Journalism Educators Congress in Grahamstown, South Africa from 4th to 7th July 2010.

Paper Presented: Situating Language at the Centre of Journalism Training: The Case for Broadening the Spheres of English Teaching and Learning in Journalism Training Institutions in Ghana.

  • African Journalism Educators Conference in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 7th to 11th October 2009.

Paper Presented: Towards a policy of journalistic writing in Africa

  • Acting Rector of the Institute – February 2018 to July, 2018
  • Acting Deputy Rector – August 2018
  • Head of Department, Languages – 2017 to 2018
  • Head of Department, Communication – 2016 to 2017
  • Workshops and Conferences Coordinator, Ghana Institute of Journalism, 2009-2010. Duties included to see to the arrangement and management of all the workshops and conferences of the Institute. I effectively organized, ran and reported a number of workshops before leaving the position.
  • A member of the Academic Board, GIJ, Accra since 2015
  • Editor, Journal of Communication, Media and Society (JOCMAS), GIJ
    www.journals.gij.edu.gh
  • Membership of many Committees of the GIJ Council and Academic Board