First of all I would like to commend the various media houses in Barbados for doing a reasonable job in reporting information to the public. However, there can and will be always room for improvements.
For some time now, I have become aware of a seeming change in traditional standards (i.e. declining) wherein the trend in news reporting in Barbados draws merited scepticism. Newspapers, for instance, protect their turf with an uncanny attachment toward their undeclared political interests and expect the general public to assume neutrality. To a large extent, the Barbados Advocate newspaper appears foremost in this indefensible circumstance.
After noticing the headlines of Wednesday 14 July 2010, which in bold typeface, communicates that Barbados Int‟l Reserves Increase, I felt heartened and confused simultaneously. This attention-grabber was coming on the heels of another electronic version, Barbados Today, in which that headline courted the notion that things were UNCERTAIN in the economy; this was substantiated in the Barbados Daily Nation appearing under the caption Gloomy Outcome and for which the first sentence states, “Central Bank Governor Dr Delisle Worrell says the outlook for Barbados‟ economy is uncertain.” Certainly there are mixed (i.e. different) messages being conveyed to the reader between the reporting of the Advocate and the two news carriers alluded to in this paragraph.
Notwithstanding this discrepancy, as I read further in the three different reports, it was clear that my misgiving on the cynical reporting and hidden agenda of the Advocate was justified. The Advocate indicated that the Governor of the Central Bank in his presentation of the economy for the period January to June 2010 concludes that “although visitor numbers were up, the performance of the tourism industry was not robust enough to provide the usual first-half boost in foreign exchange reserves during 2010” (my emphasis in italics).
Moreover as appearing in the same daily, Dr. Worrell is said to indicate that foreign reserves “declined by $68 million, leaving reserve cover at about 19.3 weeks of imports,” and connected to the economy during this time, “unemployment was up to 10.6 per cent but inflation remained steady at 3.3 per cent.” These data are staggering especially as I remember the current administration going to great lengths to assure Barbadians that things were steadily improving and unemployment was being contained fewer than 10 per cent.
Yet, just as worrying as the implications of these statistics convey, the Advocate informs us that the Governor’s message was essentially one of major concern.
In acknowledging that receipts from the VAT increased, Dr. Worrell as noted in the Advocate contends that “those [receipts] from corporation tax were down” and overall “Government revenues had contracted 9.1 per cent because of a 28.8 per cent drop in corporate tax revenues.” It must be clear to all readers of the Advocate and all Barbadians that the headline conceptualised by the Advocate is misleading to say the least.
I believe that it was a case of genuine attempts at accurate reporting, albeit that the formal or informal support given by the Advocate to the current administration is not publicly declared. The Advocate and by extension its reporters and journalists are seeing themselves coerced into a compromising situation. Their reporting and writing is rather indecently clouded in “spin” that would rival counterparts in the USA, the UK, and elsewhere.
To me, the problem lies in the fact that there is a narrowing proximity between the Advocate and those who administer governance in Barbados. On the surface there is nothing wrong with such; however, the Advocate, as indeed all other media houses, owes it to the readers to state unequivocally the political or other institutional stance from which one should expect to read their interpretations and presentations of the news and events. This declaration of interest would be an unprecedented welcome and should go a long way in maintaining the integrity of the Barbados media in general.
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23 responses to “Cynical Reporting And Hidden Agendas”
St George’s Dragon
The Advocate has stated its position which is to give good news.
A newspaper which says this cannot be taken seriously.
Newspapers need to be fearless exponents of the truth, not moral uplifters of public opinion. Any other route will in the medium to long term undermine the public’s respect for them.
It is evident even for a blind man on a trotting horse to know that Mr. Bryan has signed a pact with the government.
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Pretty Blue Eyes
I agree with both of the comments above, that particular headline was meant to mislead the people of Barbados, the Advocate are really on the side of the Government, nothing wrong with that, however, if we take a complete analysis of this world’s economy, we would see that Barbados, just like the rest of the world, without the inclusion of Nigeria has Foreign reserves to last 2 months the most.Oil-rich Nigeria is the only economy that can boast of having foreign reserves for at least 3 years, surprising isn’t. It would be interesting to study the World Economic Forum’s report on Barbados as compared to the rest of the world. I believe that the Central Bank Governor would get a copy of this report, since Barbados was selected as a respondent. When the analysis for last year is completed that report, as tedious as it is, should be conveyed to the citizens of Barbados, whether by electronic or printed Media. We need to be educated about such things, so we can have a clear prospective of where we want to go as a country. When the media houses publish rubbish, based on their affiliation with a particular party, we would be in a better to decipher it and decide if what they are publishing is the truth or just a lie set to misguide us.
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J
The Advocate has no balls.
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Amused
@J. Succinctly and accurately put. I have nothing further to add.
EXCEPT, as you have noted, the Advocate suffers a similar lack to that of a certain blog owner who, testicularly-challenged, now seeks to deride the contributions of my sweetheart Bonny Peppa.
In the case of the offending blog, the style used is that of a sort of VERY down-market and extremely repetitive Private Eye. I have always disagreed with the adage that sarcasm in the lowest form of wit. In the hands of a true master, Sarcasm can become an elevated comedic art form. In the hands of the testes-deprived owner of the offending blog, however, it is not in the slightest bit funny, nor is it even offensive. Instead, it is boring and banal. Sort of what you expect from certain ex patriots of a country known as “Blandada”.
As this particular weblog master has exhibited a desire to pin his flag to journalism (for want of a better description) may I suggest that, instead a running a blog, he might be well advised to join the ranks of the similarly ball-less at the Advocate. He (and they) would be right at home.
For those who might not have realized, the PDC was the first to publish yesterday morning a post under the BU thread – Quality of Bajan Life Must Not Be Compromised At The Altar of CSME And Freedom Of Movement – on this particular lied gaffe ( faux paus) of the Barbados Advocate, yet instead of elevating our contribution, the person who did elevate the above contribution into a lead thread over ours, perhaps did so to off-balance us, by having as a lead thread something that clearly amounts to pure wishy washy sub-standard writing, when contrasted with ours – which was so clinical and magisterial in dealing with this particular issue of the Barbados Advocate engaging in unadulterated lied rancid yellow journalism.
The following type of criticisms is not what we like to do on here, but we will do it nevertheless at this point in time to show the prodigious pap that has been promoted over our carefully crafted contribution.
And, of course, we do not wish readers of this part of this post to feel that our response has been made because we feel we have been dissed by the person who elevated this thread over ours ( because we are not), but we feel strongly about another example of what happens ever so often in this country – wherefore mediocrity is promoted over excellence – a semi-culture that itself has to be beaten down by the opponents of it wherever it shows its ugly head – and which if not smashed substantially will continue to present its own serious consequences for further stagnation and decline in various aspects of this country’s affairs.
So, readers of this particular post, just view the following criticisms, and do realize what has been promoted by the BU elevator of the particular grade F contribution.
Starting with this particular piece of junk as contained in the above relevant sentence.
There the writer – and ironically a University of the West Indies Phd contender – we believe still – goes on: “Yet, just as worrying as the implications of these statistics convey,……”
Now, what the tail is that??
What convoluted incompleteness??
Check this disjointed junk also: “In acknowledging that receipts from the VAT increased, Dr. Worrell as noted in the Advocate contends that “those [receipts] from corporation tax were down” and overall “Government revenues had contracted 9.1 per cent because of a 28.8 per cent drop in corporate tax revenues.” IT MUST BE CLEAR TO ALL READERS OF THE ADVOCATE AND ALL BARBADIANS THAT THE HEADLINE CONCEPTUALIZED BY THE ADVOCATE IS MISLEADING TO SAY THE LEAST ( capitals our for emphasis)
Clearly, there is no darn connection between the apposite PREMISES – “In acknowledging that receipts from the VAT increased…… and overall Government revenues had contracted ……….., and the CONCLUSION – repeated in capitals.
What a badly constructed argument/paragraph!!!!
Furthermore, next to the worst of all is this ostensibly self-censoring be-careful-how-you-step-in-this-journalistic-minefield-because-I-want-my-letters-still-to-be-published-in-the-Barbados-Advocate-contention – which itself – in the alternative – has blown our minds: “I BELIEVE IT WAS A CASE OF GENUINE ATTEMPTS AT ACCURATE REPORTING (capitals to help prove the point being made), albeit that the formal or informal support given by the Advocate to the current administration is not publicly declared.”
So, having correctly written earlier in the post about the cynical reporting and hidden agenda of the Barbados Advocate, the author – without shame – terribly writes later on in the same post some more of the same subservient contradictory foolishness that he started his post with: “I BELIEVE IT WAS A CASE OF GENUINE ATTEMPTS AT ACCURATE REPORTING”
Can anyone imagine that subservient trash!!!
What idiocy that flows from the pen of one who has been a doctoral student – and a political science one too – at the University of the West Indies!!!
And, finally out of the criticisms herein tendered, here is the one that really tumbles to the ground this near comical laughable contribution.
Well, the Barbados Advocate stated on the Front Page of its July 13 the edition, the caption: BARBADOS’ INTERNATIONAL RESERVES INCREASE, which LIEDLY UNTRUTHFULLY CLEALY flies in the face of what the Governor of the Central Bank of Barbados actually said, that the FOREIGN RESERVES OF THIS COUNTRY ACTUALLY DECLINED BY BDS $ 68 MILLION.
But, do you know that in the above contribution, that the person in charge of this blog elevated, this joker for a scribe wrote meaninglessly all over his face but failed totally to explore the real issue? – the fact that the Governor said that the foreign reserves fell by BDS $ 68 million, whereas the Barbados Advocate itself LIED by saying that they had increased by BDS $ 200 MILLION in the first half of the year?, and furthermore to illustrate such in his contribution?
Where in the post is the proof to support his claim that the “headline conceptualised by the Advocate is misleading to say the least.”??
Where is it??
Well, God help us!!!
Finally, the elevator of that Grade F contribution – which many a Professor would not dare look at – must ask himself/herself what is in the name and in a title of a person, really?
George Brathwaite submitted his piece via email with a request to publish at discretion. You submitted a comment. Therein the reason why Brathwaite’s piece was posted.
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Anonymous
Could it be at all of us are confused?
Table 3 attached to the report suggest that the net reserves increased by $159.6 million dollars(Central Bank reserves decreased by $67.5 million and the Commercial Banks reserves increase by $227.1 million).
It was probably hard to explain how this increase in reserves cam about. It really is because of the fancy accounting of book entry of unremitted profits . This is probably why the Governor did not want to talk about the net international reserves. He might have drawn too much attention to this accounting “sleight of hand”.
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Robert Deschappe
On CBC 100.7 fm morning show, Larry Mayers would read the headlines on the Advocate and would encourage listeners to by the day’s copy. I will state again, what re-enforced my suspicion that the Advocate (The George Street Journal) is a public relations arm of the DLP, was when a lady called Larry Mayers to discuss an article in last Friday’s Weekend Nation, to which Mayers stated that he was uncomfortable talking, on air, about any articles in the Nation, because the CBC employees were issued with correspondence from management notifying them that they are not to discuss anything in relation to the Nation newspaper on air.
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Anonymous
Could it be at all of us are confused?
Table 3 attached to the report suggests that the net reserves increased by $159.6 million dollars(Central Bank reserves decreased by $67.5 million and the Commercial Banks reserves increased by $227.1 million).
It was probably hard to explain how this increase in reserves came about. It really is because of the fancy accounting of book entry of unremitted profits . This is probably why the Governor did not want to talk about the net international reserves. He might have drawn too much attention to this accounting “sleight of hand”.
What goes around comes around. The Nation management has done similarly to BU.
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G.C.Brathwaite
@PDC
It is unfortunate that you are not using your very talented skills to edit the very contributions that come under your handle, what an improvement it would make. Nevertheless, I wish you well as you continue to belittle and moan and groan without anyone really noticing, that can be quite a lonely hole to dig your self into without an escape route.
It is my impression, that you would only be in a position to be critical of the above contribution if you were able in the first place to understand the message or messages being sent by the writer. Indeed, you reflected upon your own criticism of the said newspaper.
I have found it a bit more sobering and effective to be able to deal with an issue or problem rather than ad hominem outbursts. Even in scolding, one still can be gentle or at least be aware that the offense may not be deliberate, or that the person committing the wrong may be guided by higher authority.
PDC, I urge you to see life through various lenses and not the clouded and sordid ones that you are currently using. Enough said.
@David
I do appreciate the honesty.
@BU
Barbados is my paradise, we may never share the same views on many things, but at least let us put out in the open our opinions on what we see as being right or detrimental. Believe me, those that have the power to decide, will usually listen even if their hands are tied.
Gone for now.
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Knight of the Long Knives
Considering the Nation and One Media have maintained a very pro BLP stance is any one really surprised? When Harold Hoyte left any semblance of balance left with him, and even then it is a stretch to say it was balance.
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Yardbroom
TO BE Fair
There is substance in this submission and it is an interesting read.
I also understand David’s comment as explained. However, I have some sympathy for PDC as his article although as a comment, was published “first”.
It is necessary to say these things at times as we “all” have a place in this world.
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G.C.Brathwaite
@PDC
You wrote:
“What idiocy that flows from the pen of one who has been a doctoral student – and a political science one too – at the University of the West Indies!!!”
I actually dismissed this error on your part, but a friend thought that I should correct you.
1. I am a doctoral student but not at UWI despite it was UWI that I owe much to and I do intend to give back.
2. Your superfluous contempt appears to dim your sensibilities to a well-written article even if you do not agree with the content or whether it should have been given any priority over your piece.
As stated, I was very reluctant to correct you, but a friend whose opinion I value, suggested that BU readers may be inclined to be fair and judge our contributions on merit.
One love my friend, it should be clear to you that I am not a ‘yellow-belly’ man, no insult to anyone.
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Anonymous
The political science types like too many words.
It could be a case of an agenda by the Advocate or it could have been a simple, innocent mistake.
The last three lines of table 3 of the Governors report have some errors(my opinion).
Change in FXR +increase/- decrease should have been -increase/+decrease
Similarly for the Commercial Banks.
A plus sign should have been in front of the + $67.5 million(Central Bank) and a – sign should have been in from of the $227.1million (Commercial Banks).
-$227.1+$ 67.5 = negative $159.6 (the increase in FXR with a – sign.
If the Advocate writer relied on table 3 instead of the Governor’s statement, the writer could have come to the wrong conclusions
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G.C.Brathwaite
@ Anonymous
“It could be a case of an agenda by the Advocate or it could have been a simple, innocent mistake … If the Advocate writer relied on table 3 instead of the Governor’s statement, the writer could have come to the wrong conclusions.”
While i do concede that innocence and error are possibilities, if you re-read my article, you would realise I was gracious enough to accept that there perhaps were “genuine attempts at accurate reporting.” Needless to say though, that the incidence of a one-off even would of necessity prompt such an article calling for media houses to be more open with their readership.
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Anonymous
I find the PDC write too long . If they want to be taken seriously by the public they need to use communications specialists to help them to get across their message. I usually start to read their articles but by the end of the second paragraph I leave it.
I would say to them that most of us get lost with their long sentences and paragraphs. Such writing is for the brilliant, most of us a just average.
BU takes this opportunity to reiterate to the PDC, if you have a submission you want to give highlight please email us. There is the ‘Send Confidential Message’ at the top of this page which is another way to communicate.
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G.C.Brathwaite
I am confident that only a very bold person (e.g. Carson Cadogan and WIV come to mind) that would now reject the thrust of the article I posted after reflecting on the ‘timely’ or ‘untimely’ but surely lengthy contribution by HH in the Sunday Advocate.
If that is not a vulgar act by the Advocate, then Barbados has reached a disconcerting stage where anything goes. I prefer to hold to the first perspective.
Needless to say, I tip my hat to HH for being able to manipulate his way in the crudest manner which does not seem unfamiliar territory for him.
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