ONE TV station recently came up with some laudable ideals - it announced that its programmes and its presenters would have to abide by professional and internationally acceptable standards.

TV observers would be forgiven for not breathing a sigh of relief just yet, because others have not rallied around that station in support and there is still a long way to go before Guyana TV gets in line with TV broadcasting in the Caribbean and other parts of the world.

There have been some attempts at ditching the bad old ways but there's a lot to be desired in the main and the public eagerly awaits the promised broadcast legislation.

With the March 19 elections over, everything seems to have been forgotten about the highly touted media code governing the conduct of both journalists and media houses.

It is now just three months after the elections and what people are seeing and hearing today on some television stations is completely the opposite to what is enshrined in the lofty principles of the code of conduct, which has been signed by some of the TV station owners/managers.

The daily goings-on of some TV folks on the air are so outlandish and irresponsible that viewers may be forgiven for thinking they are above the law of the land and any code of ethics, for they are allowed to carry on with impunity.

Those who belong to the journalistic fraternity ought to be outraged at the outpourings of these people, some of whom call themselves journalists.

The time has come for all genuine journalists to stand up for the protection of the fraternity.

There has to be set standards for content, language, presentation and use of clips on TV.

Of concern is the continuing breach of the media code signed before the elections, especially the clause, which clearly says that if a media house is owned by a politician, he must not use it to conduct his political campaign.

This clause was included in the code to avoid anyone having an unfair advantage over another and owners of TV stations should not abuse the facility to get at others.

Unfortunately this has been happening and continues to happen on a particular TV channel.

Almost daily, this particular TV station owner chooses to speak as a talk show host or as the leader of a political party, whenever it suits him.

This should not be allowed to go on, for this is clearly a breach of all ethics.

These are concerns that have to be borne in mind by those charged with bringing order to the wild west that has been allowed in dominate TV land here for so long.

Only yesterday, the Police had cause again to point out the glaring inaccuracies on a TV `talk show' and some newscasts in reporting on the Thursday protest in Linden.

TV stations cannot be a law to themselves much longer.