Accuracy, balance and opinion
Frankly Speaking...
Because of interesting reactions to last week's piece on the Code of Conduct for the local media, meant to be guidelines during the elections campaign, I'll offer a few additional comments today. Just what and/or who constitute the "media" in Guyana today? Yes, we have the two major newspapers Chronicle and Stabroek; the sole radio station; a collection of television transmitting facilities all styling themselves as television stations; a few political party newspapers; a handful of publishing houses producing magazines and other literature and, in certain instances, even the cinema or telephone being used as a medium of communication and influence. Now our media operatives or practitioners include some trained, qualified and experienced persons who can claim to be reporters, full-fledged journalists, photographers, editors, announcers and/or producers/presenters. I know I have omitted some categories. I know too that I don't ever lay claim to be or being "journalist". I prefer to be labelled, if I must be, Public Relations Specialist and Commentator. (Though, conceitedly perhaps, I feel I can "hold my own" with certain "qualified and experienced" media exponents). But wait! I must list the relatively new breed of media worker: the TV "personality". Whether "Talk Show Host" or Presenter, Music or Quiz Master, Convenor of "Panel Discussions" or just plain Newscaster, this type savours his or her role these days. From medical issues to the normal, now-daily political/campaign subjects, this breed enjoys ruling the local roost whatever the objective or agenda. Keep all eyes and ears on these "personalities" during this period. I find it mighty interesting that, by the time you read these words, efforts would have been made to resuscitate what passed for a press association in the recent years locally. The GPA, at best, is now a paper grouping allegedly there to represent the interests of various categories of media workers of particular levels. At worst, of course, it is merely an association of convenience, the name of which is invoked when a small group wishes to confront or make "statements" to the "authorities". Which again brings me to two interesting, even challenging aspects of the new Media Code that Mr Singh's Commission hopes will be observed. Examine these two behaviours which media professionals have declared they "agree" to honour or display: they "agree" (i) "to refrain from ridiculing, stigmatising or demonising people on the basis of gender, race, class, ethnicity, language, sexual orientation and physical or mental ability." Then the media reps. actually "recognised" that "no story is fair if it includes essentially irrelevant information rumour or unsubstantiated statements... and if it misleads or even deceives the reader, listener or viewer." My, my! How noble. The code is now still words of wisdom and advice on paper. Should we - the slightly more rational citizens expect certain operatives to actually observe those guidelines when they feel their private or secret choices are in danger, might "lose" or need "help"? I don't hold out much hope. But I'd love to be proven wrong this time. Methinks too, that the Under-forty Media Brigade, certain "professionals" who claim to be Neutral will "resuscitate" some Press Association to implement their own version of "balance", if not accuracy, the two principles from the Code which I touched on last week. And - tell me about it - won't "they" want representation on the independent elections monitoring and refereeing panel?! Stay glued to these columns! Campaign time considerations... 1) One Prime Minister-in-waiting is pointing to what transpired in Yugoslavia recently. Small parties coalesced and triumphed. Watch it Civic! 2) Next week, let's discuss the (welcome) role of Mr Simon Osborn and his team of long-term observers of our Independent nation's elections - pre - during, and post. 3) No reformed businessman was ever guilty of customs mal-practice. That's for sure. 4) Today's funeral of Speaker Jagan, coming after those of Fazal Ally, Shree Chand, and activists in Linden and Berbice, should serve to steel the nerves of the Civic. Are they resilient? In any case, Speaker Jagan, was to my mind a man of monumental tolerance and patience in parliament. Perhaps he knew that the particular "ayes" would have it - now and in the future.(?) 5) No quarter was given to David de Groot in this week's Palm Tree Paper. Ouch! Couldn't he sue? Campaign time. 6) Notice when people leave certain `parties, they are called "discards"? 7) A "senior" Trinidadian gentleman has explained to me that the American Drug Enforcement Administration's (the DEA) very visible presence in T&T has had a very positive effect in that territory. Tip-offs prove significantly useful. Since the USA is the market, why shouldn't they assist here? 8) What "independence" are we fooling ourselves about? 9) Just how do you make a claim? An objection? Get a transfer? 10) Whilst the artful Hugo Chavez of Venezuela is now a leading player in OPEC, CARICOM is just "disturbed"... 11) When wrong becomes right, judges' decisions are only respected if or when an aggrieved party feels the judge was "good" to them. (I'll explain later). 12) So CN Sharma has gotten the last laugh for now. Mark well! 'TIL NEXT WEEK!
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