Submitted by an Anonymous blogger
Journalism in Barbados is dead and unfortunately no one seems to know when it died. Was it one single event or a series of events? Perhaps we can point our fingers to defamation laws or perhaps we can point our fingers at the close ties between the media and the government or maybe it is the business class. You don’t think journalism is dead? Let me show you why I think it is.
Apes Hill
In 2015 the Apes Hill project owned by Bizzy Williams borrowed 25 million from the NIS “Dat is the people pensions.” Apes Hill has since “defaulted” on this debt according to the upper echelons of NIS with not so much as a blink of an eye. I’m just a nobody and know this, I have alerted the various political parties and they seem unbothered, whispered in the ears of the media and they seem unbothered.
This article isn’t about “poor” Bizzy though so let me continue, hopefully a journalist can interview him and ask him if he even plans on returning the money. But moving on…
Corruption Allegations
In like every year since independence allegations of corruption existed ? Honestly I’m not old enough to know or remember, but it feels that way. The BLP elite fan the flames of allegations, while stating there is evidence of over-invoicing and other questionable practices, but somehow not enough to bring anyone before the court. They are playing a dangerous political game and any reasonable journalist would ask about the evidence or stop writing about it. For example you allege to have evidence of various overpaid lawyer fees yet fail to bring it to court? Surely the government has access to not only to the old paper trail, but also to the bank accounts of government to generate new statements. I’m sure a journalist can figure this out, so what is the issue?
Alternatives to Defaulting?
From my extensive research as a non journalist countries don’t default on their debt; it is exceedingly rare. From the Washington Post to The Economist that point is reiterated over and over again. My simple journalistic question is this;
“If a country goes to the IMF to improve its creditworthiness, why default and then go to the IMF?”
Let me ask that a different way, what sense would it make publicly telling your bank that you are are going to refinance and their is nothing they can do about it (defaulting) and then hoping that a future bank or lender would want your business.
Journalism Under DLP rule
Before some partisan person states that I have DLP bias I should perhaps state that journalism under the DLP was equally as woeful. The only thing I’m thankful for is that the media really did their job in helping to oust the persons who brought the economy and country to its knees. Perhaps one could argue that journalism wasn’t dead in the months leading up to elections, the media struck back? So kudos to the media there for that small victory, however if the media were perhaps doing their job the economy wouldn’t have gotten so bad and perhaps we wouldn’t even had had the DEMs again in 2013, but alas that is history.
Investigating, shaping the minds of the public
Perhaps the media houses had too much control in any case and this dilution of power is a good thing and the tradeoff is simply shoddy journalistic standards as the media can no longer afford to retain the best talent. Perhaps we need more civic minded persons to write and speak out or perhaps only experts not auditors speaking out as economists or politicians speaking out as professionals beyond their scope. I don’t have all the answers so don’t mind me either for I’m not a journalist.
P.S. Advocate, Nation or Barbados Today(pretty sure Barbados Today wished a reporter recently) I apply to be a journalist as of mid October 2018 Terms and Conditions apply. Perhaps I can contribute in some small way.
2nd P.S. Freelance only ! I don’t wish my NIS going to well never mind.
Signed,
Humble farmer
A blog is not another daily News Paper. In fact, the successful blogs gain followers by apposing the daily Press.
The first question that should be asked is “IN GOD’S NAME WHY???” Bizzy and COW are one and the same, and they have $25 million rolling around like loose change. Cui bono, (apart from the ghastly ‘Lady’ Heiffer)?
Well, we don’t know, but we can posit an educated guess, and mine is that public sector criminals have knowingly and shamelessly robbed their masters. One of the glaring differences between modern Barbados and the old civilised one, is the thieves’ kith and kin applaud these crimes and look up to the perpetrators as somehow having got one over on de gummint, since they are too brain-dead to know that is THEIR money their idols are stealing.
IF, and I say IF advisedly (since such action would entail the repayment of possible bribes), the NIS wants the peoples’ money back, it would be quite simple to garnish the Williams’ properties, in part or whole.
Failed state staus I’m afraid. A lotta lockin’ up needs to be done to turn it around, starting with the untouchables.
Journalism is dead because those we call journalists do not investigate matters of substance or interest; they rely on gossip and hearsay and more often than not misleading sensational headlines. They look forward to their invitation to high profile events to rub shoulders with the elite and get a belly full they are not biting the hand that feeding them.
Do journalists have the resources to exhaustively investigate matters? Are media houses sufficiently independent to support fearless journalism?
Journalism is dead because those we call journalists do not investigate matters of substance or interest; they rely on gossip and hearsay and more often than not misleading sensational headlines(Quote)
What is a matter of substance or interest? Or, simply, how do you define journalism?
Blame the shitehound corrupt ministers who would sue for defamation and legislate to continue to do so, but work hard to cover up their corruption, Mia should be ashamed to be attending court for this case, but refuses to adequately address the corruption and hundreds of millions of dollars loss to the people over the decades via thefts, bribes and corrupt ministers in DBLP..
WARU October 25, 2018 3:18 AM
“CIVIL
T i m e No. Case No.
2:00 p.m 1 CV0217/2011 Mia A Mottley v. The Nation Publishing Company Limited, et al”
Just as I said, this is a civil case, imagine if Mia had been robbed just as the people were robbed by her companeros in DLP and by the lawyer clowns in her government……imagine how many people she would have the police charge for robbing her…but the people were robbed and 5 months later, she is still looking for excuses to address the corruption and lock up the thieves…despite her self proclaimed bag of evidence.
She cannot have not one former minister, lawyer, minority or any other criminal in her close group of friends or her current government ministers arrested for stealing from the people or stealing from the elderly…and robbing them their estates.. .
We can already see where this is going, the people can make her a one term government though.
If Apes Hill has defaulted on the loan all the NIS has to do is realise on its security, RIGHT? RIGHT? RIGHT?
Mr Blogmaster you are perfectly correct to state: “Do journalists have the resources to exhaustively investigate matters? Are media houses sufficiently independent to support fearless journalism?”.
Those facts are known and yet we continue this harangue ever once and a while about lack of investigative journalism in a country smaller than many counties in UK or Canada….
Do we perceive that investigative journalism sprouts wings naturally and sores free of the restrictions on the life around it…lets get real:
Who will print the real hard hitting, career ending, legal woes creating pieces of such journalism in a small domicile like ours!
Our resident legal eagle the Dean has reminded us often that not one Bajan media house has ever properly tested any of the libel cases brought against them and opined on the whys and why nots.
No doubt your excellent blog came about because of the need for a media transparency that COULD not be provided otherwise…so I would say to the author: brother or sister be sober about your intent and provide any and all ‘investigative’ type data to Barbados Underground…cause if you waiting to see the truly hard hitting stuff in the local press you will wait forever.
You know what they say about a vacuum? This has given birth to social media and what is commonly referred to as citizen journalism. ALL of the media houses in Barbados are performing poorly as far as financial performace is concerned. The other issue is that journalists in Barbados in the majority are themselves as employees and not bonded to the mandate and ideals of the profession.
“This article isn’t about “poor” Bizzy though so let me continue, hopefully a journalist can interview him and ask him if he even plans on returning the money. But moving on…In 2015 the Apes Hill project owned by Bizzy Williams borrowed 25 million from the NIS “Dat is the people pensions.” Apes Hill has since “defaulted” on this debt according to the upper echelons of NIS with not so much as a blink of an eye.”
In saying that…Barbados’ media do not have the testicular fortitude or the intelligence to step up and aggressively expose the thieves like Bizzy and Cow,, despite knowing that they are parasites and bottom feeders in the lives of the majority population .
…the media themselves are bottom feeders always looking for crumbs or they would never indulge Cow and Bizzy to be so vocal and act like they own the country and people while stealing from the treasury and NIS Pension Fund.
Cow, Bizzy, Maloney, Bjerkham, Tempro et al are known to take turns ripping off the people through weak, backward government ministers and nobodies like Robinson who believes when he allows Cow to rob his people’s pension fund, that makes him somebody.
Both Cow and Bizzy should be in prison for their years of thefts against the people, both them and the ministers of government who helps them.
The Apes Hill compound should be seized, Cow spend months trying to sell it and no one wants it, they have all been blacklisted and are known scam artists, they think they can rob people like Simon Cowell and Andrew Lloyd Webber and it will be business as usual…dream on.
What I can say is what others have said ‘BARBADOS IS A FAILED STATE. How can politicians continue to ignore the graft and corruption that is going on this country. Gabby said it best, Politicians are making mock sport at people.
Ooops…what a slip …LOL.: “…journalism sprouts wings naturally and sores free of the restrictions on the life around it..”.
All journalism has terrible sores that prevent it from soaring…so Bim is not an exception 🙂 !
No more Clennell Wickhams. That mould has been broken I’m afraid.
@ Anne at 10:07 AM
Yes some politicians are making mock sport at us. And they do it through journalism. That is the channel through which they reach the people. How about an organized strike of journalists,including those on BU?
Oh shoot. I forget that they are now in cyberspace. Perhaps we should not click on their websites. You will be harvested. But there is a cure for that . Post a lot of shaving cream on it and with a few bugs to boot.
A failure is just an opportunity to get up and start again. But first we have to understand what caused our failure. “Let’s start at the very beginning – a very good place to start.” (from the Sound of Music)
@ Sargeant who wrote ” realise on its security, RIGHT? RIGHT? RIGHT?”
What security ? You think Barbados is Canada ?
Journalism is not a profession.
Why is there no discussion on BU about “cherry picking” as was reported in the NationNews.
http://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/206432/cherry-clearing-admits-okay-waste-facility
$25 million.
google “Apes Hill” and see what your NIS dollars helped to create.
Investigative Journalism ?
@ Donna at 10 :37 AM
No need to start at the beginning. That is impossible to do. Just do a self imposed performance appraisal and set the target of improving on the performance by the next six month review. Media houses cannot exist without good journalists. People buy papers for the news and informative columns. They seldom read the advertising.
@ David October 25, 2018 8:37 AM
“exhaustively investigate matters”
Barbados “journalists”, quotes for emphasis, are not even inquiring with basic followup questions which are rudimentary to any kind of investigation to get at the TRUE FACTS. Can the POOR BARBADOS EDUCATION SYSTEM be the cause of this ???????
@ Vincent Codrington. I don’t think many people in B’dos expect news (unless it be fake) in their papers today. Lotto results, crosswords, racing form and adverts. The rest is political lies and other BS.
@Hal Austin October 25, 2018 11:03 AM
“Journalism is not a profession.”
WELL NOT IN BARBADOS, don’t like to paint all journalists with the same brush.
To debate whether it is a profession is a pedantic exercise.
@David BU
Shut up with your constant appalling ignorance. Are you aware of the debate about journalism as a profession and its implications? I do not do Devil’s Advocates. It is juvenile.
@Wily, nowhere in any liberal democracy is journalism a profession – even if it is practised exceptionally badly in all its forms in contemporary Barbados.
“To debate whether it is a profession is a pedantic exercise.”
Not always,David as it certainly WAS a profession, and a respected one, especially in the case of investigative journalists. To contradict Hal Austin’s bald assertion to the contrary, the Fourth Estate used to be an honourable PROFESSIONAL and vital part of a nation’s makeup.
B’dos followed the lead of the UK, and had some EXCELLENT PROFESSIONAL journalists up to and after Independence, none of which graced the CBC that I can recall. It is sad to see now, that so many of the old standards have been replaced with whining #Meetoo feminazis, propaganda posing as news CNN, MSNBC, NYT, Washington Post etc in the US, and the laughably called Independent in the UK, the scandalous BBC, the Guardian et all. The Telegraph stills employs one or two decent journalists like Allison Pearson, and even it seems some investigative ones, as shown by the ghastly Philip Green’s current discomfiture.
If real professional journalism finally dies, as seems inevitable, it will be one more nail in the coffin of the proletariat, and that is what the Deep States and political elites want. Keep the people poor, ill-informed, and DEPENDENT. Our education systems are designed to that end too, with the teaching ‘profession’ (known in the UK as The Blob)becoming another lefty political propaganda arm, staffed by thickos whose main interest is their pay, pensions, perks and sick leave entitlements, like the Police Farces
.
For a stunning example of what our universities turn out, just look at this – you will scarcely believe what you see – a terminally stupid American ‘student’, complete with a ring in nose for her bull-in-china-shop impressions…and as if Southampton University didn’t have a full quota of home-grown yobbesses already..
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6315595/Fury-student-union-president-vows-tear-white-men-WWI-mural.html
@45govt
Agree with you. Can you tell the blog why the US has Shield Laws?
“They seldom read the advertising.”
Oh shirt, there goes my revenue base.
David, to protect free speech, and the reporters’ rights to shield their sources – a principle that has been abandoned in the UK to its shame.
PS – we recently watched a film called Nothing But The Truth with Kate Beckinsale, which was a shocking story of when reporters were prepared to go to jail for their principles, and follow a real-life case of an Ex-CIA agent.
45Govt,
You are right, Barbados has had some great journalists such as Robert Best, Carlton Proute, Jimmy Cozier, Carl Moore and others, but at no time since Gutenberg has journalism in Western democracies been a profession, or has it been recognised by governments as a profession. Strange things happen in Barbados.
I am out of the discussion..
Hal – I copied this from the dictionary…
“the fourth estate
the press; the profession of journalism.”
No need to start at the beginning. Typical male. If you did not understand what I meant, why didn’t you ask instead of jumping in to correct me?
@45Govt
With dictionaries, like other things, if you put rubbish in, you get rubbish out. Journalism is not a profession. Sometimes we talk in the popular sense about a person being professional, or a sportsman being professional. My car mechanic is very professional in the way he works. That is the popular definition.
But ‘professional’ has a specific sociological definition, ie doctors, lawyers, accountants, etc. Journalism does not fit in any of those categories in any way.
Hal, if the lawyers can be considered professionals in Bim, then so can the garbage collection operatives!!
@ Hal Austin at 1 :12 PM
How would you describe/ define the work of the gentlemen mentioned above and your previous job at The Financial Times? It certainly was not artisan? Just asking for my edification/ eddication?
Donna, you should get over yourself you silly girl. Vincent Codrington was in no way insulting you as you did him.
Grow up.
@Vincent,
A craft. To describe journalism as a ‘profession’ has serious legal and philosophical implications which are too boring to go in to now. We have had this discussion on BU before. I leave it to David BU to explain. He seems to know everything.
@Vincent,
I do no like talking about myself, but I still have a box of notes on this very subject which I have had for about 30 years – promising myself I will return to the subject.
Hal, if the lawyers can be considered professionals in Bim, then so can the garbage collection operatives!!(Quote)
A great Bajan cultural tradition – black and white. When ever we try to have a serious discussion it is reduced to a silly joke. You can call anyone yo like a professional – even our politicians.
Hal, the vultures in the Bajan legal profession, like the politicians ARE a joke, but a sick one.
Mia’s hypocrisy is alive and well and showing, she is not going after the former DLP ministers who robbed the people and committed crimes of corruption, oh no, not her, she wants no vengeance at all, she has her come to jesus rah, rah, and immunity for criminals/lawyers/politicians/ministers/minorities….
..so why is she going after Nationnews in court..is it because they offended her and not the people…so what about her pretence at not wanting any vengeance……and ah bet she would want 100,000 dollars as compensation too..if she wins the case..
….that is where the media in Barbados will always fall down, they allow government ministers to get away with shit and help them cover up their crimes against their people.
that is why I cannot stand turd world leaders, they cannot even see their own hypocrisy, fraud and lies.
@ Hal Austin at 1 :49 PM
Thanks. A craft. I now understand.
Hal Austin
Journalism is the only profession guarantee under the Constitution of United States of America…
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging freedom of speech or the Press…
@ Vincent,
Think seriously about the requirements to be a profession and those required to be a journalist.
@ Lexicon,
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, or abridging freedom of speech or the Pres(Quote)
This sums it up well, but it is not a constitutional guarantee of a profession. It is a constitutional guarantee of freedom of speech and the press. A first amendment guarantee.
Apart from the First Amendment, plse name any piece of legislation in any Western democracy that stipulates who can and cannot be a journalist.
I too have noted the dearth of investigative journalism and given some thought as to why it is so lacking in Barbados. Short answer? There is none. Let me explain what if feel is the cause: living and working in countries like the USA, UK, Europe or Australia in many instances removes the reporter by hundreds of miles from the person/situation upon which he/she is reporting. In all probability that reporter will never directly meet, socialize or have any interaction with the target investigated. It will be unlikely that they went to school with, played/plays cricket with, is friendly or in a relationship with kith and kin of the investigated. The newspaper boss is not dependent on that person or their company/party for advertising revenue and further, has the protection of legislation to shield them from prosecution when publishing carefully researched material in a truthful manner.
Additionally, global politicians and global business people attract global research and global coverage, local politicians, on the other hand, have a much smaller fishbowl in which they can concentrate on the annihilation of detractors.
And then we have the court system. Which entity would be willing to write a chilling ground-breaking story, carefully researched, meticulously balanced and thoughtfully presented, offer it for sale to a limited readership and ending up before the courts for an inordinately long period of time while paying attorneys top dollar for a verdict that may well end the life of that publishing house?
Yes, we want investigative journalism but can we afford the price and would we be willing to pay for it? I think not.
@Hants
As per the link to the NATION story about Cherry
Didn’t you just remind me that Barbados is not Canada? Cherry spending that time and money on a project on which permission hasn’t been granted? Have you ever heard of a wink and a nod?
Ho say can you see or hear if that permission wasn’t granted and probably retroactive to boot?
Didn’t say he was attempting to insult me. My remarks were gentle proding, nothing more.. It’s just a reflex with you guys not to take a woman as seriously as you would a man. You are probably all of the age where it is natural. Sometimes I mention it not because I am offended but because you guys often miss my point. It can be frustrating. I don’t need to get over myself. I make fun of myself ALL THE TIME to the point where some idiot thought I was serious and asked me why I always put myself down..
By the way, of all people it would have to be YOU to try to put me in what you perceive as my place. I wonder why?
But, this is not about me. Back to the topic at hand.
Ignore button pressed.
@ Sargeant,
cherry was just following the leader and hit the ground running. lol
Hal Austin is correct.
Profession
noun
1. a paid occupation, especially one that involves prolonged training and a formal qualification
In Barbados neither a postgraduate degree nor any other “prolonged training and a formal qualification” is required to call oneself a journalist, therefore it does not qualify as a profession.
@Peter
We can debate this matter another time, it is a subject matter that has engaged the blogmaster and others in the profession over the years. With respect it is not as clear cut as you would make it out as a member of the BU household that attended Carleton University would argue.
http://www.academia.edu/26431579/Is_Journalism_a_Craft_or_Profession
@PLT
Thank you.
The fundamental problem with journalism in Barbados is the business model. If you take a look at the profitability of news media companies over the past couple of decades it will be crystal clear that their output has declined in quality in ways that are directly proportional to their profitability.
The salary paid to a newspaper reporter in Barbados is too pathetic to attract or retain people of talent. Would you do the work for Bd$1,600/month?
Yeah..that salary is indeed ugly..but the island’s leeches got this fascination with paying people starvation wages, while they steal millions .. and that includes the leeching government.
Nationnews is being given props for their Donville/Alex photo op in NYC.
https://www.facebook.com/jackie.stewart.965/videos/903986826477524/?t=53
@PLT
The business model is indeed the problem, but then again that is the problem the world over. Let us concentrate on Barbados: the business model is based on advertising and we can work that out by analysing the ad/ed ratio, the number of editorial pages to the number of advertising and, based on the advertising rate card, we can tell on average how much advertising they have made. The cover price of the publications is insignificant. Newspapers also do deals with big advertisers such as promotions, conferences, supplements, etc.
Next we look at the number of employees and their average salaries (the annual report will camouflage these figures). In Barbados, a population of about 280000, there are about 50000 households. If we estimate a copy of the paper to each household, we will see our best-selling papers do not reach the full market.
Sometime ago a senior Jamaican publisher came to see me at the Financial Times building to discuss some publishing proposals and the arithmetic did not add up – and Jamaica has a population of about three million.
I suggest to him, and his senior editor, that he should think of a Caribbean-wide English-language paper, which he could not fathom. It is still a viable proposition for a would-be business person.
As things stand, in Barbados they spend lots of money to produce a product (David BU’s favourite word) to have it distributed by old men an women at street corners.
In the case of the Nation, they toy with the idea of digital journalism, but they do not seem to learn by the big global websites (ie the BBC or New York Times). The Nation’s website is rubbish. But it is what we have.
On a similar note, sometime ago a Chinese journalism professor and some of her students came to London and I was asked to talk to them. They had already done the rounds of the LSE and other major newspapers.
At the time the talk was about digital journalism. When I told tr hem it was rubbish, that major newspaper journalists in developed countries had not yet worked out their business models the professor started laughing.
And, as I have said on here a number of times, if you put rubbish in you get rubbish out. Journalism is the content, not the vehicle. If digital was that good, why haven’t the major publishers abandoned print and concentrated on digital? It is the uncertainty.
There is a lot more to be said about the business of journalism – and I will do it for free.
@PLT,
It does not matter if the person on BU went to Carleton or Columbia or Heaven or Trump, the indisputable fact is that journalism is not a profession. I sometimes feel sorry for Barbadian taxpayers who paid to educate David BU. It was a waste of money.
Behave yourself Hal.
BTW, the FT has become a Lefty rag, its only saving grace the cryptic crosswords.
@ David BU at 4: 16 PM
Thanks very much for the reference from Carleton University.
Hal Austin would not be delighted to hear Twitter third quarter earnings was up 29% to $760 million with advertising revenue coming in at $650 million.Users?326 million. Share that with the Chinese Professor of Journalism Hal. Quoth he “Journalism is the content not the vehicle”….Twitter laughing at Hal,all the way to the bank.
“Twitter laughing at Hal,all the way to the bank.”
lol..lol..ha,ha,ha
@ PLT
. a paid occupation, especially one that involves prolonged training and a formal qualification
In Barbados neither a postgraduate degree nor any other “prolonged training and a formal qualification” is required to call oneself a journalist, therefore it does not qualify as a profession.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
This is not like you….
That definition says….
A profession is a paid occupation….. FULL STOP.
The definition goes on to give a guiding qualification …(especially one…etc)
HOWEVER it does not say EXCLUSIVELY ONE THAT involves…etc…
THEREFORE your conclusion that ‘since neither a post grad degree nor other prolonged training is needed …etc”
…is LOGICALLY flawed.
You may indeed be correct, but the above logic does not follow from that particular definition of profession…..
As far as Bushie is concerned, a hair stylist is as much a ‘professional’ as is a doctor ..or a damn grave digger…
…and BTW …Hal remains an idiot…..
or a damn grave digger…
DOES ANY ONE KNOW IF GHANDHI IS STILL ALIVE? SMART FELLOW WHO GAVE UP A BANK JOB TO DIG GRAVES AT ST MATHEWS, ST GEORGE, ST JUDES , ST AUGUSTINE
VERY GOOD CONVERSATIONALIST HE WAS
It is competence and maintaining a high standard of service that makes one a professional.
.,
Maintaining a high standard of service AND a high ETHICAL commitment to the profession.
So in Bushie’s humble opinion, a grave digger who takes pride in his craft, gives you your agreed six feet, is on time, and always follows the ethical standards of his calling… is MUCH more of a professional than some highly educated and trained charlatan who cannot be trusted with client fees; takes bribes and steals old people’s land titles….
EVEN if he has a LEC…..
gandhi was/is definitely a grave digger who takes pride in his craft,
Amen to that one, Bushie!
@Anonymous Blogger “however if the media were perhaps doing their job the economy wouldn’t have gotten so bad and perhaps we wouldn’t even had had the DEMs again in 2013”
You blame the media for idiotic Bajans voting for the DLP in 2013.
How about blaming idiotic Bajans for being idiots?
Stupseee!!!
@Anonymous Blogger “I apply to be a journalist as of mid October 2018.”
You won’t get hired as a journalist, because you cannot write a coherent sentence.
Go back to school for a few years, then maybe in three or four years time you can apply again.
@peterlawrencethompson October 25, 20184:00 PM “The salary paid to a newspaper reporter in Barbados is too pathetic to attract or retain people of talent. Would you do the work for Bd$1,600/month?”
No.
And especially not if the big bosses who know NOTHING about journalism are being paid $16,000 per month.
@Bush Tea
“A profession is a paid occupation” COMMA
++++++++++++++
I was wondering how long it would take for someone to point this out… It is indeed possible to interpret any paid occupation at all as being a ‘profession’ from ‘the oldest profession’ to paid internet troll, which might just be the newest profession. This, however, drains the term ‘profession’ of any real meaning and contributes to the debasement of the language and ironically makes actual professional journalism ever more elusive 😉
Surely you jest PLT
Grammatically, the definition says ‘A profession is a paid occupation” COMMA
However (as you well know)
LOGICALLY it says ‘A profession is a paid occupation” FULL STOP.
…since the remainder of the sentence does NOTHING to qualify that simple statement …. ONLY to illuminate it.
In order to be interpreted as you suggest, the definition would have to say :
” a paid occupation, that involves prolonged training and a formal qualification
or…
“a paid occupation, BUT ONLY one that involves prolonged training and a formal qualification
In Bajan,
ANY PAID occupation is a profession. However, those occupations that involve prolonged training and official registration tend to be especially so classified. Bajan brass bowls therefore all aspire for such positions and have spent BILLIONS of dollars in eddykashun pursuing these shiite dreams – while missing the FUNDAMENTAL value of true professionalism at ALL levels.
Don’t be misled about the value of the term ‘profession’. A professional maid or gardener can often be a FAR BETTER and more honourable person than your top notch ‘professionals’ who can arrange to be paid $1,5M for some shiite because the PM was their friend…
LOL
When Bushie was adopted, logic is the gift that was asked for….
Game, set & match to Bush Tea.
@PLT, seemingly your 7:24 this morn and earlier remark that “. a paid occupation, especially one that involves prolonged training and a formal qualification…In Barbados neither a postgraduate degree nor any other “prolonged training and a formal qualification” is required to call oneself a journalist, therefore it does not qualify as a profession” was a form of being devil’s advocate surely 🤣…
…either that or you were strictly speaking of Bdos only!
@Hal, you diss the Blogmaster with such angst that it’s amazing that this same site of “journalistic endeavor” was a forum for many of your “letters ” and a much more collegial interaction with the same David Blogmaster borg… what a difference over the years!
Anyhow, so do tell tho with your craft vrs profession…are you really arguing that a fella like Tony Cozier (just to pluck a local name) who studied journalism as an apprentice under his father; then went on to Uni to study the craft; then practiced his skills for years in Canada, Caribbean, UK, Australia etc etc (met that metric of prolonged training, it seems and formal training too) and who from all reports enjoyed rewarding remuneration over his PROFESSIONAL career should NOT be considered a professinal journalist !
This craft is no profession despite endowed Schools of Journalism at reputable tertiary level institutions across the globe providing excellent training in the study; it is no profession because of a business model of hawking wares to support the written word despite the need of EVERY other professional to hawk his or her services similarly.
So is this because @Hal recaps an old debate to shout “the indisputable fact is that journalism is not a profession. I sometimes feel sorry for Barbadian taxpayers who paid to educate David BU. It was a waste of money”.!
Bro, I suspect many may say the same for you…even after your years as a professional journalist.🤣
Is this a real debate or an esoteric rumble to facilitate another round of name calling.
It is a pity that the dictionary definitions of profession or professional do not pay attention to the connotations that make this a useful English word. The word professional SHOULD connote both honorable and expert service.
” Police officers repeatedly demanded that the team leave the public road because they were “carrying out an operation”. About two hours later,
BLP chairman George Payne and general secretary, Senator Jerome Walcott, approached the news team, insisting there was nothing-strange taking place. (SDB Media)”
Profession Occupation.
Read the 77 comments or let google be your friend.
You could also just read Bushie’s comments because he is always right. lol
Strange actions of the police force here in a matter of a political meeting to deal with their internal differences.
Those police officers involved need to tell us what ‘police operations’ they were carrying out. Damn Foolishness.
We are not yet in a police state – thank God !
Led Wily get PLT’s blood pressure UP, is a CONSULTANT a profession ?
This stupid argument about whether journalism was a profession or craft was played out a few years ago and we know what Hal A’s position is on the subject.
I am reminded of a joke when I lived in La belle Province when an acquaintance said he was an artist as he was drawing unemployment.
This article is far from complete.
The writer starts by pointing to the very close relationship of the media and government as one of the factors contributing to the decline of good journalism but avoids examining the heavy BLP Media bias which has been existing pre and post elections and long,long before that (remember the advocate in the Owen Arthur Days ?)
For example, why doesn’t the writer of this article highlight the obvious collusion in the media – by for example – their silence in the matter of a foreign national – Charles Jong – who currently works for a number of other regional governments – and who worked as the facebook page manager of the Barbados labour party during the elections campaign – suddenly being thrusted into the Civil Service at a pay grade beyond the skills he brings – at with the ultimate objective of disbanding the Government Information Service (with very qualified public officers) – and replacing it with himself and the other operatives – so as to push Mia’s propaganda – rather than official government information.
What say you Barbados Association of Journalists?
Aren’t you concerned about the treatment of your other fellow journalist at the GIS? Even this week we had the Acting Head of the GIS – Sharon Lynch having to publicly state that they were not responsible for what too k place at Illaro Court when Mia Mottley gave the National Address 2 weeks ago – and the National Flag was incorrectly positioned.
Can you tell us if Charles Jong was responsible for the recording of that Nationa Address and if so why wasn’t the official GIS used?
What say you about a weather presenter/small NGO head – being catapulted into the second highest position in the civil service – that of Deputy Permanent Secretary?
Why didn’t this writer speak in this article of the obvious collusion and collaboration of the Nation newspaper and journalist like Sanka Price as well as David Ellis and the BLP Sycophants at the VOB radio station – in promoting the talking points of this government – and blunting any criticism of its actions.
Are these journalists (Ellis,Price Stetson Babb etc)? what is their role as journalist vis – a -vis the government and the citizens?
Are media houses and their workers now functioning as the gate keepers for this government and not there to hold them accountable when they go wrong.
Should journalists and media houses be giving a government any ‘honeymoon period’ or should they remain constantly vigilant ?
Enquiring minds want to know ?
@Wily Coyote
Consulting is an art, not a profession. It is a 42% rhetoric and and 71% illusion…
Journalism!
We don’t have freedom of information legislation, so the next best thing is to put the issues in the public domain with the hope of raising national awareness and getting answers.
http://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/207340/editor-notebook-explain-wealth
@Hants
This is a message the traditional media needs to keep in the public eye 24 hours a day.
On Fri, Oct 26, 2018 at 7:29 PM Barbados Underground wrote:
>
@ T Inniss.
A very pointed observation as it relates to the illegally appointed Charles Me Love you Jong time
1.The Bypassing of Public Services Administration rules.
2.The Continued Use of the BLP resources to broadcast government business
3.The Deafening Silence of the pretend Leader of the Opposition Bishop Reverend Pastor Atherley to speak out with regard to this adminisistrative perversity
4.The continued monitoring of the downloads of Documents of the Government of Barbados by agents of the Regime
5.The subjugation of the GIS staff to the new regime protocol of the Mugabe Regime
And the list goes on T Inniss
https://i.imgur.com/Vjqqm0F.png
However, have you notices that there have been a recent spate of “Editorials” that are questioning the new administration?
are you not starting to note a “Barbados Underground Complexioning of these articles that erstwhile were afraid to venture past the line in the sand, they now seem emboldened by BU articles and AFTER SERIOUS PLAGIARISMS (I borrowed that form my pally george Donks and Josh) the same things that BU keyboards have been saying, these people are now writing?
Credit to THe Old David of Barbados Underground
Such a pity that the Minister of the Interior soon going pass a bill, under cover of the Computer Data Act of 2018 that will outlaw Barbados Underground and all of wunna anonymous sheeple and class idiots and brimlers and brass bowls
Piece
Yes I have seen a few editorials speaking about the questionable actions of this government – however they seem to be mainly concentrated in Barbados Today newspaper.
I know however from observation that they have been monitoring the discussions here on Barbados Underground – even though publicly they would not want to admit it or give David/BU the credit for things raised here.
Journalism has gone to the dogs – and some of the practioners of the craft seem more skilled at the activities occurring at the Garrison than the old timers there.
I also must give credit to the numerous bloggers who have been highlighting various issues and without them BU contributing on a regular basis – Bdos Underground would not have the mass appeal.
sorry – “should read without them contributing to BU on a regular basis ”
@ Piece,
The sage Bush Tea in another post made a reference to the breadfruit tree and you asked the readers if they could understand the significance of what he meant. Bush Tea responded to you in a jovial manner. I am not certain what the significance of BT’S allegorical breadfruit tree is and even if I and all other Bajans were to understand its meaning, I feel certain that it would not make any difference to how Barbados is governed and managed by its government and citizens.
You have been around for sometime on BU so you would have heard of Kelruthblog. I believe that it is now defunct – however, I have read some of his archives. It has led me to the conclusion that Barbados has always and will always remain corrupt. It is impossible to bring change to the island when the bloodlines of its citizens are so interlinked. We are no longer physical slaves, yet we remain enslaved souls both mentally and psychologically. Unsure and unwilling to shape our own future.
Keep up the fight. But you and your fellow citizens face a herculean effort to change events in Barbados. As bad as the UK is, Hal and I remain privileged as we will always have greater opportunities than domestic Bajans.
I am certain your journalists are not comfortable with their role and their status and would prefer to practise their craft with respectable new’s publications such as the The Guardian, Aljazeera, Le Monde, et al., but this will never happen whilst they remain on the rock.
You may have seen Waru’s link concerning the president of Ghana’s invitation for the African diaspora to come to Ghana and to make it their home. In the words of GP’s hero Donald Trump “What have you guys got to lose?”
http://keltruthblog.com/blog/?p=644
“Therefore, cannabis in Barbados is a multi-billion dollar industry. All the money is creamed off at the top by a select group of parasitic individuals who pay no taxes to the consolidated fund, and based on the fact that these “big fish” are unknown to the law, the politicians.., the courts, and Dodds, their activity is virtually risk-free. This risk-free activity has been going on for more than 30 years in Barbados so it stands to reason that there are extremely wealthy Barbadians who cannot withstand the slightest scrutiny into their financial affairs by the government. They need not worry. The government, parliamentarians, and police of Barbados have not the slightest clue that we have extremely rich cannabis retailers in the country.”
Published on Barbados Underground, October 25, 2018 at 12:58 a.m
Hants October 26, 2018 3:29 PM
Journalism!
We don’t have freedom of information legislation, so the next best thing is to put the issues in the public domain with the hope of raising national awareness and getting answers.
http://www.nationnews.com/nationnews/news/207340/editor-notebook-explain-wealth
David October 26, 2018 4:26 PM
@Hants
This is a message the traditional media needs to keep in the public eye 24 hours a day.
David,
On this particular issue, one might argue that BU has beaten the Nation to the punch, once again. To me, that doesn’t matter. What matters is the fact that we are seeing ideas which have been expressed and accepted on BU now being ventilated and magnified by the traditional media. The harmonization and fusion of critical ideas between social and traditional media will enable us as a people to achieve our national objectives more easily. It is good for Barbados.
Times have changed and new international financial regulations have emerged. Corrupt politicians worldwide have millions and millions of dollars in foreign accounts and now spend every minute of their time trying to figure out how best to get this money out. Under FATCA, we only have to ask the USA for a list of names, and from there we can initiate criminal proceedings.Just the slightest application of our local tax laws will expose many of our multi-millionaires to charges that carry heavy fines and/or imprisonment. These criminals are sitting ducks, just waiting to have their feathers plucked! However, not one of their feathers can be even ruffled unless civil servants from various governmental ministries and departments do the jobs which they receive a monthly pay cheque to do. Clearly, these workers are not doing, or are not allowed to do their jobs. So if the government is looking to send home workers as part of an austerity programme, who do you think should be the first set of workers to go?
If we were to take a few seconds out of our busy schedule and just stand motionless, we would hear a shrill voice trying to rise above the din. That voice is calling out for a few good men to step forward in the nation’s interest and say “enough is enough”. Eric Smith is one of those good men, and I do not believe that his decision to blow the whistle on this issue at this time is merely coincidental.
Quote was actually published on BU on October 26, 2018 at 12:58 a.m.
Here we go again with the Nation newspaper today’s Saturday Sun edition.
While in Today’s paper – you have an editorial that seeks to project a balanced view – on the other hand you have a piece that could only be described as straight out of the BLP campaign talking points document – and the positions taken there eerily similar to that which is normally spouted by their senior journalist Sanka Price. This is what a newspaper found precious space for – in a column called coo -coo and flying fish .Promoting an argument in support of a government – rather than doing an expose on how the special female friend of the prime minister (weather presenter Selma husbands) found herself catapulted into the second highest position in the civil service. This at a time when cost cutting measures for those who can least afford it – are underway – in the midst of much agony for families.
Isn’t the Nation newspaper concerned as to why independent civil servants are going to be replaced by a partisan employee from the elections campaign – who is not even a national of Barbados – and very little is known about him or his activities – past or present.
Yet surely as one day follows the other – we can be assured of one thing – that newspaper will seek to ensure that they will follow the orders of: ‘ Support Mia, Support Mia’ – no matter what.This from our most circulated newspaper on the island – and from one of their senior journalist.
Now that Eric Smith column earlier mentioned – well at least there we have a good start.
Again on the Sunday Sun – Front page – the drip, drip,drip of charges and hints at corruption without any balanced investigation or a presentation of all the information.
The BLP lapdogs in the Nation newspaper at work again – doing the Naked Emperor’s bidding.
VOB needs if it wants to be accepted as credible must get rid of that BLP leaning moderators line up.Some of them have been there for years – and they bring nothing fresh or educational to the public by way of knowledge.
All of them are so biased and so limited in their depth of knowledge – especially at a time when we need to educate the public.Shite man other than BU – where can the public go to get a full discussion on these issues.
The way that liitle jump start Corey layne treated Dennis kellman this morning is disgraceful.The way peter wickham and Sanka Price tried to talk over and in wickham case shut down Glyne Murray – is so arrogant – pure hubris..
Listening to Sanka Price getting on with kellman like he is in a rum shop just tells us how invested he and the others are in this Mia Mottley government.Shame on them all ! All ideas and opinions should contend – But it seems not in One Caribbean Media Houses.
Their BLP underwear all out in the open for all to see.
@T.Inniss
Let us forget the hint of corruption directed at the last government for a moment which is a continuation of what newly installed governments have done, are you comfortable with the large sums paid in legal fees to a few lawyers?
David/BU
NO I AM NOT ! I AM PISSED ABOUT IT AND BELIEVE FREUNDEL SHOULD HAVE PAID MORE ATTENTION TO WHAT WAS GOING ON IN CERTAIN MINISTRIES.
Why haven’t you seen those big bills in the Ministry of Tourism (Richard sealy),or Foreign Affairs (Maxine mcclean),or Steve Blackett ministry,or John Boyce ministry,or in Stephen Lashley ministry,or the former PM. Ministries and on and on.
But now that I have addressed that are you David/BU happy with the prime minister catapulting her girlfriend into the second highest position in the civil service – because we dun know Selma Husbands could not just walk up to PAD and get that job
So do you agree with what Mia did David?
Do you agree with Mia appointing all these old retired BLP politicians – and consultants like Avinash persaud who has a track record of failure – as well as all the other consultants and advisors – especially since she berated the last govt for their hiring of consultants ?
Tell me David/BU I am waiting.
The blogmaster has no evidence to support what you have been railing about.
Whaaaaaaaaat ! ! ! 1
You don’t know that Mia hired former BLP Politicians like Billie Miller and Johnny Cheltenham?
You don’t know she hired a fella who has no known track record of success like Avinash persaud – and other consultants like Charles Jong,Analese Babb,Pat Parris,,Jessica Odle, clyde mascoll ………….
Remind me not to respond seriously to you when you pose your questions to me.
Over and out.
The response pertained to Selma Husbands and you know it. Both parties recruit consultants, what is new? Around we go…
@ T Inniss
Kellman is a jackass…and deserved the beating he got today.
When one has tried reasoning with a JA in vain, ….the time comes for the whip…..
Surely someone in the DLP could tell Kellman to keep his donkey shut
and concentrate on the fish-cutters or whatever it is he sells at MoonTown….
…and on helping out with Maripoka on BU…
Peter Wickham is the other JA…. What a prick!!!
Never LISTENS properly to the callers..
ALWAYS fast to lecture from his own warped perspective
He is the most edited ‘moderator’ in VOB history….
and YET David Ellis sees the need to continue to inflict him on us…
But Really though TI.
…after your DLP decade, you are not in a good place to criticise the shiite that the BLP is currently unloading ….
Leave that to those of us who have become equal opportunity shiite-detectors and jobby-whackers….. under the leadership of the RH Pieceurderock CTE (Conspiracy Theorist Extraordinary)
LOL
ha ha ha
BUP!!!
Bush Tea
I am in the best place to criticize the BLP shite.
My feet firmly placed on higher ground – its called moral standing,or integrity or even principle.
The DLP got to tek dey lashes – but Bushie trust me – Mia is a Category 6 – yuh hear.
Yuh remember Caswell words last week in the Sunday Sun – how the last govt was doing crap and he was glad to se the back of them but he never thought he would miss Sinckler when he see what Mia is doing.
And if we really want to be objective and not play this ‘both sides ‘ business – without looking at degree – then we will all be part of the hypocrite society.
T. Inniss,
Have yo noticed that Barbados Today has three pictures of Mia on its home page. Is this Mr Jong working overtime? Or Barbados Today indulging in the sweet and sour pork?
The Barbados Association of Journalists and Media Workers (BARJAM) has a new face.
Following voting at the Association’s Annual General Meeting earlier today, at the Argentina Embassy at Hastings, Christ Church, those in attendance cast their ballots and elected the body to represent them for the remainder of this year and on to 2020.
Veteran journalist Emmanuel Joseph beat Ryan Broome to be re-elected as president.
Broome however was elected as vice president by acclamation, while general secretary Rachelle Agard, treasurer Marlon Madden and public relations officer Deanzer Roberts were all elected in the same vein.
The floor members selected to represent the body are Christina Smith, Trevor Thorpe and Anthony “Admiral” Nelson. (RA)(Quote)
Is this what passes as news reporting?
An example of bad reporting. Why was he remanded, when he pleaded guilty? Was it for reports, if so say so. How long for?
In full view of the surveillance cameras attached to Central Police Station, Guyanese proprietor Hamenauth Sarnedranauth was conducting business at his Tudor Street store.
In fact, not only was he caught on two occasions, but one of those days was last Sunday when all stores were supposed to be closed.
Sarnedranauth, 48, of Tudor Street, St Michael, was in the District “A” Magistrates’ Court yesterday where he pleaded guilty to contravening Paragraph (3), Subparagraph (1) of the Emergency Management COVID-19 Protocols Special Curfew No. 3 Directive 2021, in that there being a directive requiring every person to observe such social distancing and associated protocols in the interest of public health imposed on the island from February 3 to 17, being the owner of a non-essential service not permitted in this directive namely Premier Wholesale, he failed to remain closed on February 14 and again on February 16.