Nix 'This Week with the President' Independent media monitors recommend Sharma should step aside as TV host Stabroek News February 22, 2001 The state-owned media should immediately cease giving free time and space to the government with, for example, the programme "This Week with the President", the independent media panel has said. In their report, Dwight Whylie and Harry Mayers of the Media Monitoring and Refereeing Panel, stated that "urgent attention must be paid to the two extremes of Guyana's peculiar media mix--governmental controls at one end of the spectrum and a scary free for all at the other. The result is an impudent destruction of norms and codes of conduct on which all civil society is based." Using the Media Code of Conduct as their guide, Mayers and Whylie "question the decision of the management of GTV to proceed with the airing of 'This Week with the President' on Sunday February 18, 2001. "It is our view that the programme should be discontinued during the official period of campaigning... as it clearly gives Mr Bharrat Jagdeo an unfair advantage over rival presidential candidates. The programme, in our opinion, is a long, free campaign commercial. It is noteworthy that both major parties, now promise that in government they would end state ownership of the media. We would respectfully recommend that these promises be honoured...." The panel therefore concludes that "The President who is now a presidential candidate is entitled to no more or no less free political time and space than any other presidential candidate. For the state media to provide free time and space in excess of that offered to other presidential candidates is in our view a violation of the intent and spirit of the code." At the other extreme the report notes that "in the main the formal news programmes broadcast on these [independent] television stations reflect attempts to comply with the code . ..editorial comment has lessened and balance has improved. However, there is often superficial treatment of stories and a failure, over time, to get all sides of an issue ." As for the talk shows, "none of these programmes makes any attempt for balance. It is true that they all provide, to some degree, platforms for public comment on a range of issues. But this is compromised by their partisan positions and a general tone and practice which is at best sensationalist and at worst defamatory, misleading and inaccurate. In addition they air damaging rumours and prejudicial statements. Their presentations are of doubtful credibility, except in the eyes and ears of viewers and listeners who are uninformed and biased. As such they reinforce ignorance and prejudice." The report took issue with C.N. Sharma because, "in his roles as a political candidate... and as the owner of a news medium he is in conflict with two clauses of the media code of conduct.... Mr Sharma's station and programmes are controlled and directed by his party and by him as its leader and presidential candidate. They are in effect a continuous campaign commercial." Sharma they said "should step aside and relinquish personal control", but the panel noted that such an approach was anathema in the current political climate and had little or no chance of acceptance or even discussion while state control of media was maintained. However, they also noted that Sharma and his station acted as a voice for the voiceless, which was commendable. "The desirable middle road of comprehensive compliance with the code is therefore occupied by a minority of the media," the panel said. "The Stabroek News is to be commended for attempting to travel that middle road..." The panel also commended three television stations in Berbice--"Little Rock TV, DTV, and CCBTV for being genuine community stations fully reflecting the interests and concerns of the communities ..." In conclusion the report proposed "the immediate implementation of the recommendation in the code to provide equal and free space and time for all political parties who have met the criteria for contesting the election.... That all signatories of the code ensure all their journalistic colleagues are given copies--and full explanation of all clauses; the arrangement of a series of televised debates among all competing party leaders to ensure equal exposure." The panel is an independent body, not associated with the Media Monitoring Unit of the Elections Commission. Mayers from Barbados and Whylie from Jamaica will be in the country during the elections period and are currently accepting complaints from the public on media activities. They can be contacted at the CIDA Programme Support Unit, 77 High Street, Kingston, Georgetown or by phone on 227-3549. Follow the goings-on in Guyana in Guyana Today If you do not see the 'Guyana: Land of Six Peoples' drop-down menu on the left then please click here to enter through the front door which will give you additional options and information.