Recently Mr. Richard Cox, Head of News and Current Affairs at the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) passed away. Last week BU learned that veteran Nation newspaper journalist Albert Brandford was put out to pasture and is currently freelancing at the Nation (seems a little strange). Despite BU’s disagreement with many Brandford’s positions on political matters, we concede that his ineffectiveness over the years may have been caused by the lack of support from his colleagues. Wow, if David Ellis were to exit the profession next, the talent level of the Fourth Estate would be less than mediocre. As if to support the point BU read a story which was reprinted by the Nation from the Associated Press (AP) which questioned Tiger Woods proclivity for fraternizing with White women.
For sometime BU has been discussing race issues and we have been labeled racist by some. It is interesting the Nation newspaper would highlight the Tiger story verbatim from the AP wire, but would hesitate to publish local stories which highlight the hypocrisy around race relations in Barbados. The conspiracy to prop up the status quo maybe?
Our journalists today seem happy to run with stories which appeal to the fast food diet of readers. Recently, a caller to a talk show made the analogy of patients doing research before visiting the doctor and consequently keeping the doctor’s diagnosis honest. The same is occurring within the media sphere. A knowledgeable and discerning public now has access to news and information on the Internet more than ever before. There is the current readership who will continue to prop up the membership of the local media but BU sees it declining overtime with a changing demographic.
Ongoing discussions about economic partnership agreements and global treaty signings ,and how they will impact our societies in the future continue to escape the scrutiny of local media. For example, at a recent meeting in October 2009 held in Brussels under the auspice of the Technical Centre for Agriculture and Rural Cooperation (CTA), the media in the African Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries discussed The Role of Media in Agriculture and Rural Development in ACP countries:
One of the recommendations coming out of the seminar was for a greater effort to be made by the media, as well as other stakeholders involved in the agriculture sector and rural development, to capitalize on the different types of knowledge, expertise and experiences available. The seminar also recommended that issues relating to agricultural and rural development, whatever medium is being used, must serve local interests and be used as a gauge for validating political orientations, techniques and technologies.
Interestingly, the composition of the media represented at the Brussels meeting was mainly from Africa. Should we conclude that the paucity of representation by the local media at such an important conference to do with agriculture was of no interest to the local media? Is the Fourth Estate in Barbados not concerned about our food security? The most farcical news to come out of the conference was – journalism in general in the region was seen as setting an example for other regions of the world. According to Trinidadian media consultant, Dr Krishendaye Rampersad, the Caribbean is noted for having quality journalists. She noted that journalists in this part of the world cover a range of issues from crime to entertainment and provide in-depth coverage/ analysis on such issues within the mainstream media. The foregoing makes the saying in the land of the blind, the one-eye man is king.
It is apparent that our media has now become slave and puppeteer to the sponsors and governments by mobilizing agendas. As long as the accommodation and the sell out continues by the Forth Estate, the struggle for truth will continue.
The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.