Just over a week is the time it has taken for the Nation newspaper to break the story which Barbados Underground and Barbados Free Press published last week. The fact that the Nation and its counterparts in the media in Barbados refuse to acknowledge the blogs and other social media is a reflection of their own ignorance and insecurity. In the BU household not one journalist can be found, however our mantra is simple, news is news and it does not matter the source provided it can be cross checked. We have been very deliberate in the stories that we publish and most of our content can stand-up to scrutiny. We admit that traditional media has the hurdle of a more restrictive environment in which they have to operate. This is exacerbated by the litigious climate which exists around the world today. Having said that we feel the passive approach to journalism in Barbados where the media Houses are afraid to test matters in court if they believe in a news story is partly responsible for the arrogance and contempt which the Prime Minister and his troops have for media practitioners in Barbados.
How else can you explain Barney Lynch walking out of a live program on radio?
How else can you explain the Prime Minister not pressured to give regular press conferences?
How else can you explain the reaction when a Prime Minister can call Publishers at the different media houses in Barbados and tell them about their mother and fathers when articles not to liking appear?
The 3S and Jonathon Danos law suit story is relatively old news and in any country in the world the media practitioners would have sought to ferret out information on any vendor which won a major government contract. When we factor that Operation Free Flow aka flyovers was a very controversial project in the eyes of Barbadians it makes the incompetence of our media all the more evident. We hope that media practitioners in Barbados will wake up and come to the quick realization that there is a new way in which things must be done going forward. As the Fourth Estate it must play an active role while working with the Third Estate to agitate and advocate the ideals and aspirations of our people. No one group in our society should be allowed to invert their roles to the detriment of the people. Politicians and government must always feel that integrity and humility will be rewarded, never corruption, immorality or arrogance.
We know that it is an unrealistic desire, but we speak for the Blogosphere when we say that we are prepared to work with all media entities to ensure that pertinent issues are exposed for public consumption. To those who say that blogs have their agendas they would be correct and this is why it is important to welcome all media entities bearing the different agendas.
The Voices of the PEOPLE must be heard!
See links to previous stories:
Operations Free Flow Should Be Stopped NOW Pending A Further Geo-technical Study Media Houses In Barbados In Collusion With Government To Suppress News, Press Freedom Under Threat ~ The Voices Of The People Must Be Heard
Gline Clarke And Rihanna Tell Their Supporters To “Shut Up And Drive”
OPERATION Free Flow, Barbados Road Network Infrastructure Improvement Project (Flyover Project) To Triple In Cost From USD60 Million To USD180 Million~Gline Clarke And The Government Of Barbados Owe Barbadians A Big Explanation
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