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Nation Editorial, Classic Example of ‘Pussy Cat Journalism’

Submitted by Douglas Monday’s Nation Editorial is a classic example of what my Mass Com professor used to call ‘Pussy Cat Journalism’. From the accusing headline to the first few paragraphs and the  general drift and body of the story, a reader is sure to deduce that Government was at fault for the delay in…

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Submitted by Douglas
Eric Smith, Editor in Chief of Nation Newspaper
Eric Smith, Editor in Chief of Nation Newspaper

Monday’s Nation Editorial is a classic example of what my Mass Com professor used to call ‘Pussy Cat Journalism’. From the accusing headline to the first few paragraphs and the  general drift and body of the story, a reader is sure to deduce that Government was at fault for the delay in the Bushy Park Development.

But, read on, and you would see who is responsible for the delay. In fact, no application has been submitted to Town Planning as yet.  So, a reasonable person is tempted to ask: why such an editorial? Why even state that “in light of the number of Government Ministries and Departments that would be involved in carrying out an assessment …….. of the application”; and “We are sure that once the application seeking permission has been duly submitted, the Town Planning Department would, as speedily as possible, process the paperwork for a developmental project that would greatly assist our starved economy, while ensuring that the public’s long-term interests are respected and protected.”

Of course, all that is designed to put doubt in the readers’ minds as to government’s ability to ‘rise to the occasion’, and also intended to put pressure on Government, Town Planning, et al, to expedite the approval whenever the tardy Barbados Motoring Federation eventually gets around to submitting an application. Well, well!

Why didn’t the Nation hold Andrew Mallalieu’s (President of the Barbados Motoring Federation) feet to the fire, instead of skirting the real issue. He did not even get a wrap over the knuckles. But then, the Nation newspaper does not come over as reasonable, at least not where this government is concerned.

Just shows you how disingenuous and anti this administration the Nation newspaper and its cohort, VOB, are. Everyday, they relentlessly seek to manipulate and influence the emotions and thinking of readers and listeners to the detriment of this government. Their agenda is so clear. It is really astonishing the length and depths they will go to.

Well, I will not let up either in showing them up on the blogs

31 responses to “Nation Editorial, Classic Example of ‘Pussy Cat Journalism’”

  1. Anne Avatar
    Anne

    The nation has always had a bias against the DLP. They are not balanced in reporting the news. I have stopped purchasing this paper. Some time ago there was incident where a grocery store was robbed and during the CBC tv broadcast the woman who was being interviewed asked the CBC not to show her face on camera..BUT the following day the woman’s photo was splashed in the nation. The nation newspaper has no credibility and is just the mouthpiece of the BLP and those who are anti DLP. The media has a role to play but the nation with its onesided views continue to seek to influence the minds of Bajans. This paper is nothing more than a scandal paper..

  2. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    The real problem is not the biased editorial in the Nation, although I am on record as calling for proper professional training for journalists. The real issue, however, is any taxpayers’ contribution to Bushy Park, an indulgence by a much pampered sector of the hard-pressed Barbadian community.
    In a island of just over 100000 acres, where there is an acute shortage of housing and agricultural land, those who want to indulge in a silly outdoor sport.
    Land use is very important in Barbados.

  3. Caswell Franklyn Avatar
    Caswell Franklyn

    Hal Austin

    You hit the nail on the head. The real question should be: What have become of the Government’s 2008 manifesto promises about changing the law in respect of change of use of land?

  4. Motor sport fan . Avatar
    Motor sport fan .

    @ Hal
    For you to describe motor sport as ” a silly outdoor sport ” clearly shows that you are not of this world . You may wish to continue your hibernation wherever you are .

  5. Frustrated businessman Avatar
    Frustrated businessman

    And as to the future of agriculture, the underlying problem is that it is unprofitable. If it were profitable there would be even less land available for housing instead of the current false demand created by the Chief Town Planner by tardy processing of change-of-use applications. Until we subsidise the sugar industry by fixing the selling price at the break-even point we will continue to lose vegetable and ground provision production as well as direct and indirect jobs.

  6. Carson C. Cadogan Avatar
    Carson C. Cadogan

    Andrew Mallalieu is WHITE and the Government of Barbados is made up of BLACK people.

    It is easier and safer for the Nation newspaper to pin all of the blame on the BLACK government.

  7. pieceuhderockyeahright!!! Avatar
    pieceuhderockyeahright!!!

    “Responsible journalism” is a cardinal impossibility for the Nation newspaper which acts one step removed from the US tabloid the Enquirer.

    With Harold gone, Vivianne has free reign in this kingdom and the irresponsible (so called journalists) led by the self serving counsel (Ezra) under guidance of the megalomaniac Vivianne, give a formula of “whatever going sell newspapers, under he guise of reporting, vetted by our ethical lawyer, is what we going put out there”

    When the old factory down six men’s was selling to Jada many of you would not recall that the sign had “for sail” instead of “for sale”

    The fact is that the Nation Pussy Cat titles make for more interesting sound bites and that is how our local Enquirer makes money.

    How many people going to examine the whole article? It is just like the report about the mother and son who stole the boom box, have they made a responsible publication about that yet?

  8. islandgal246 Avatar
    islandgal246

    pieceuhderockyeahright!!!…….Good to see you here we were (Miller and I) wondering what happened to you.

  9. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ Anne | June 5, 2013 at 6:01 AM

    When did you stop reading that scandal sheet (by your assessment) called the Nation?
    Before you saw the picture of the woman or after?

    You have done the right thing by boycotting that newspaper. There you go! No need to read or say anymore, right?

    And do us another favour; please pass on as advice your decision to boycott the same newspaper to the DLP and its supporters of blind mice like NationBLPNewpaper.

    We are sure that if the DLP did not spend millions in buying advertising space(aka propaganda blitzkrieg) with that same rag sheet and scandal mouthpiece during the last general elections the editorial being criticize in this thread would not have materialized since the place would have been financially dead because of lack of customers support from the likes of and your fellow DLP literary aficionados.
    Word to the fool pretending to be wise Anne: Don’t put your trusting money where you would not place your doubting words.

    Now do what you would wish for the same Nation dirty rag sheet and STFU!!

  10. pieceuhderockyeahright!!! Avatar
    pieceuhderockyeahright!!!

    @ The Anunaki and IslandGirl246

    De ole man had to get de goadies removed, de madam did bodering me nuff bout how dem disgraceful en ting.

    Sister *** doan look at me de same way Doha wid a hankering in she eyes, dem tings had de pants puff out nice en ting but dem gone now

    De people’s in de row wid de saints whispering when I passing, dat means dat de madam dun tell dem eveyting

    I still recuperating, but thanks for your queries

  11. robert ross Avatar
    robert ross

    Frankly, I don’t see this as DLP bashing at all. The Nation acknowledges that no Application has been made but essentially endorses the project as worthwhile. And I take this view without partiality for either political party.

    The Hal Austin remark about the silly outdoor activity is cheap and silly and for CCC’n to turn it into a black/white thing is even sillier.

  12. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ Frustrated businessman | June 5, 2013 at 7:04 AM |
    “Until we subsidise the sugar industry by fixing the selling price at the break-even point we will continue to lose vegetable and ground provision production as well as direct and indirect jobs.”

    You must also tell the public sector idiots currently in charge of the industry that the break-even point can be reached must faster where production or output is much higher.

    Of course, unit cost would be higher with large fixed costs and very low production. Trying to fool people that it cost over $4,000.00 produce a ton of sugar is misleading. That maybe so if the total output is 25,000 tons per annum and huge overheads are burdening the industry. Now try moving that output to say 50,000 (which we can achieve to meet our needs) and see how fast the break-even point is reached.

    Barbados would be making a serious mistake both ecologically and for rum industry and local food & beverage processing security purposes if it were to totally abandon the moribund sugar industry.
    What would happen if something happens in Brasil or Guyana and our much needed supplies cannot be sourced. What happens if the supply of forex becomes so tight that we are unable to pay our bills to overseas suppliers and they cut off credit and put us on COD or payment in advance trading terms?

  13. PLANTATION DEEDS FROM 1926-2013 AND SEE MASSIVE FRAUD ,LAND TAX BILLS AND NO DEEDS Avatar
    PLANTATION DEEDS FROM 1926-2013 AND SEE MASSIVE FRAUD ,LAND TAX BILLS AND NO DEEDS

    Hal Austin@ In a island of just over 100000 acres, where there is an acute shortage of housing and agricultural land, those who want to indulge in a silly outdoor sport.
    Land use is very important in Barbados.@ Where the deed for the Bushy park?

    Who else to blame DLP, all them so called Black men or woman and doing as they like , Tell me one so called white man to blame for the state of affairs In Barbados ,This is now DLP show all the way live.

    Government’s 2008 manifesto @ nothing more then She-it paper

  14. Frustrated businessman Avatar
    Frustrated businessman

    Miller, some simple facts that all administrations have failed to accept, assess and act on over the past 30 years.

    1. Sugar cane is a grass. When cane is growing the soil is ‘resting’ from production of vegetables and ground provisions.
    2. Sugar cane is a grass that is easy to plough out. All other Bajan grasses require too much cultivation or poisoning to be economically controlled.
    3. The cost of growing sugar is known, currently the private farmers grow a tonne of cane for around $120, BADMC for about $200.
    4. Sugar production is already being subsidised but only the statutory corporation BADMC receives the subsidy. Private farmers do not.
    5. Without the rotation crop we call sugar cane there can be no other agriculture. We haven’t had virgin jungle to clear for 350 years and, even if we did, it would be too expensive to clear. Abandoned land cannot be economically re-cultivated.
    6. Barbados sugar is a premium product and should not be sold in a commodity market. Look to Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee for an example. Likewise our molasses.
    7. Our current laws regarding the trading of sugar are based on the oppressive war-time 17th century English Maritime Law that facilitated the British West India and British East India Trading companies. If these laws were abolished the free market would produce and trade in sugar as the market demanded. As it stands individuals who grow sugar cannot trade in sugar other than through the statcorp.
    8. The tourism effects have not even been factored; not just the way the fields of BDS look to rambling tourists but also the economic gain of restoring an old, centrally-located factory like Bulkeley into a heritage tourism site that would be inefficient enough to produce molasses.

    None of the above is rocket science and has been well known for generations. Like everything else in this country, it is just easier to ignore it.

  15. Well Well. Avatar
    Well Well.

    Those confounded antiquated 17th century laws again, that none of the political parties wants to remove from the statute books in Barbados. Why????????????

  16. Carson C. Cadogan Avatar
    Carson C. Cadogan

    Millertheanunnaki

    “What would happen if something happens in Brasil or Guyana and our much needed supplies cannot be sourced”

    With Barbados being the amputation capital of the World, why would you be so concerned about the future of Sugar”
    I am always happy when I hear on the news that there is a shortage of Sugar on the local market. I relate it to the saving of a few toes, feet and lives.

  17. PLANTATION DEEDS FROM 1926-2013 AND SEE MASSIVE FRAUD ,LAND TAX BILLS AND NO DEEDS Avatar
    PLANTATION DEEDS FROM 1926-2013 AND SEE MASSIVE FRAUD ,LAND TAX BILLS AND NO DEEDS

    ROOTS Lets get back to our Roots.
    With out Sugar is Sugar there would be no Barbados
    With out the Plantations there be no Sugar
    With out Beatrice Henry and Violet Beckles there be no Barbados as you know it.
    Sugar is Sugar done
    White Sugar is not Sugar
    All other man made so-called sweeteners is why , feet and toes are missing.
    Test. 3 bowls , 1st Sugar , 2nd white sugar, 3rd salt .Smell them backwards. 3 2 1 , then smell smell 2nd again it will smell like salt. White sugar and salt is what killing you , Not the Sugar.Soft drinks and other so called sugars in your food and drink is what killing you , not
    Sugar-Brown.
    We need Sugar and if you watch the rich people in Movies , they use So called Sugar -Brown and not white-sugar.
    We have some of the oldest living people on Earth , Who use our Sugar-brown all their lives. Sweet drink and other things sweet killing.
    If you loose your Roots you will loose your Life.Yes We need to keep our Sugar Plantations going.

  18. David (not BU) Avatar
    David (not BU)

    Hal sometimes your stupidity is amazing. you act like you know sometimes but you really dont know. now you said “In a island of just over 100000 acres, where there is an acute shortage of housing and agricultural land, those who want to indulge in a silly outdoor sport.”

    one of those “silly outdoor sports” happen over the weekend. they were a number of teams and visitors from outside of Barbados. was it “silly” to have have this event?

    you people sometimes dont have a clue because of your biass.

  19. David Avatar
    David

    We should not be above challenging why we do things. We know that motor sport has a popular local following. We know that teams and some visitors come to Barbados for the event. What we don’t know it how it impacts the national coffers from a net perspective.We should not be afraid to outline the social and economic good of any activity.

  20. newblood Avatar
    newblood

    @Ann

    ignore mr annuki. The Dlp was the only party that advertised during the recent elections. it would appear the outcome has given him goadies and he shold do like piece and go and get hem cut before they kill he.

    @Hal

    i with u, motor sport is a waste of resouces. more prodctive use cold be fond for the land.

  21. Hal Austin Avatar
    Hal Austin

    @ Neww blood

    I am used to the Bajan mindset, regardless of party, education, class, religion, ethnicity, colour, or leisure pursuit.
    I was simply reasoning that Barbados is a tiny island of just over 100000 acres with a population of about 300000, which is set to grow by a third by 2050.
    We also have the moral hazard of free movement of certain categories of the six million Caricom citizens – a serious mistake made by a previous government.
    In addition, Barbados has 12 golf courses, or planning application and everyone knows that golf courses drink water. There is a water shortage in Barbados.
    We also import most of our agricultural produce. We also have a situation in which every home has (or aspires to have) up to four cars – parents and two grown up children. We have a road building programme that is out of control – only enriching a small group of road builders.
    In the absence of a national land use programme, I was simply suggesting that however interesting the motoring activities are at Bushy Park, we must be careful of how we use our limited land space.
    That is not a priority.
    Do you know what, in typical Bajan logic that is stupid.
    I rest my case.

  22. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ newblood | June 6, 2013 at 5:29 AM |

    Anne, of course go ahead and ignore the idiot called “Mr. Anunki”. But one thing you can’t deny is the “Truth”.

    Don’t you think it to be the height of hypocrisy and deceit to financially support a business that is diametrically opposed to the DLP in any form?
    Don’t you think if you view the Nation newspaper to be a scandalous lying dangerous gossip sheet of immorally large proportions that it your counter moral duty and Christian belief NOT to support or go along with that paper wrongdoings?

    Would you as a black person support a business that openly discriminates against blacks and refuse to employ people of your colour especially when there are alternative black businesses providing similar services or selling a alternative products?

    What was wrong with placing your electioneering ads with the Advocate and CBC and leaving out sleeping with your mortal enemy which you continue to curse and vilify?
    What happened during the electioneering period that is not happening today as far as the attitude of that paper and its columnists are concerned?

    Just remember that people like “newblood” are just fair-weather friends. As the old folks used to say: “The people that encouraged you to buy a big guts horse don’t help you feed it”, ya hear?

  23. millertheanunnaki Avatar
    millertheanunnaki

    @ Carson C. Cadogan | June 5, 2013 at 3:14 PM

    Are you surreptitiously signaling the death knell of the local sugar industry contrary to the protestations of you DLP propagandists and political liars?

    Unlike you, we will not live in the past and dwell on any commitments your party made in its 2008 manifesto but will only quote a few extracts from page 35 of the 2013 manifesto of big foot lies passing as commitments to the sugar industry:

    “THE NEW DLP ADMINISTRATION WILL:

    Implement the Cane Industry Restructuring
    Project (CIRP) to bring the sugar cane
    industry to at least a commercial break-even
    position;

    Initiate an agreement with private owners of
    sugar cane lands to facilitate consolidation
    of farms and effect better management, the
    use of more technology and the increase in
    sugar cane yields.”

    Carson, are you saying what is written above must be taken with a pinch of bitter salt?

    Do you further realize and can you appreciate the vital importance of the rum export business which is based on sugar production whether local or foreign?
    Now is this the same rum industry that represents one of the very few product exports which generate the vital forex for this sweet country?

    Now is this the same industry that the local Crown Prince of Hypocrisy so valiantly adulated as a key industry to the economy’s survival while visiting David Seale’s rum distillery and on leaving in high spirits was able for once to tell the unvarnished truth?

    It’s an awful misfortune that the sugary nonsense that is produced in your head does not have the same deleterious effects as those afflicting the victims of those losing toes, feet and limbs therefore requiring amputation of “capital” proportions.
    Maybe then, CCC, you would learn to start thinking and speaking with your balls and prick in a truncated seminal fashion.

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