Private TV stations rapped for unbalanced reporting Talk shows to be covered in next instalment Stabroek News February 7, 2001 While the state media were the primary topic of the Media Monitoring Unit's (MMU) second report, private media were also hauled over the coals for unbalanced reporting. The MMU is attached to the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) and has been mandated to monitor all coverage of election issues by the print and broadcast media. Prime News, broadcast on Channel Six, was cited for "a January 15, broadcast about Justice [Claudette] Singh's decision on the elections petition. In the first story neither the PPP nor GECOM officials were given time to refute [PNC leader] Desmond Hoyte's allegations of implied irregularities. In the second story no PPP officials were given time to voice their opinions on governance in the aftermath of the decision. "On January 16, a story was broadcast about the deplorable state of the schools in the hinterlands. No government spokesperson was afforded time to respond." Capitol News, broadcast on Channel 7: "On January 19, a story was aired about statements made by Ronald Waddell on the talk show 'Straight Up'. The story concerned the fact that Waddell's statements had led the police to question him and Capitol News gave Waddell the chance to tell his side of the story. The police, however, were offered no opportunity to present their side of the story. On January 24, a story was aired about PPP/C's use of a Square One song in its campaign. The PPP/C's views were not aired. News Update Channel 65 MTV: "On January 16, in a story about the parties' reactions to the High Court decision, Mrs [Janet] Jagan's attorney Khemraj Ramjattan was given ample time to explain his arguments. No other parties were allowed the same opportunities but were simply cited. [Ramjattan is actually an attorney for the Elections Commission.] "Also on the 18th, a news story [was aired] about the racial imbalance at GECOM and about unconfirmed reports that the GECOM Region Four office might move to Sophia. In neither case was GECOM afforded the opportunity to respond." The MMU also took exception to MTV Channel 65 for having a broadcast where "various editors of media outlets commented about our report. We were offered no opportunity to respond or present our views in any way." Channel 28 Evening News: "On January 18, the Evening News presented a story about the PNC complaints that the Guyana Chronicle did not cover its rally adequately. No Chronicle official was given the chance to defend the paper's position. "Also on the 18th, a story was aired about the High Court deliberations on consequential orders. The reporter made the following statement: 'The judge also has given legal effect to all acts done and laws passed by the present illegal government.'" The MMU said it has been "monitoring the main talk shows for several weeks... and our next report will include a detailed discussion of our observations. Please be patient." Kaieteur News has been described as "irreverent, mischievous and occasionally sensational in the way it presents stories." The MMU gives two examples of misleading headlines: "In the December 15, 2000 issue a headline appeared that said: 'Hoyte charged with molesting schoolboys.' The Hoyte in question was a schoolteacher but most people reading this headline could easily conclude that the headline referred to PNC Reform leader Desmond Hoyte and the editors should have known that such a headline could create mischief." Similarly the headline on December 29: 'Hoyte spends Christmas in jail...' was misleading says the MMU. Follow the goings-on in Guyana in Guyana Today