Appalling gov't media plans
Published:Thursday | May 6, 2010 | 12:00 AM
THE EDITOR, Sir:
I FIND the Government's decision to mandate all radio and television stations to air one-minute-long government-related news headlines 10 times per day not only appalling and shocking, but a threat to the country's democracy.
It is shameful, backward and an insult to the intelligence of the people of Jamaica for the Government to try to co-opt the press. I totally oppose any move by the Government to try to dictate and change the media landscape of the country without consulting with representatives of the various media houses in Jamaica.
The Bruce Golding-led administration seems to have a political death wish, as I am sure if this legislation is effected, it will be the final nail in the coffin of the administration.
Has the Government forgotten that Jamaica is one of the Caribbean countries that signed the Inter-American Press Association's Chapultepec Declaration in 1994? This Government seems to have a thing for going back on written contracts. Might I remind the administration that through the signing of the contract, it has an obligation to, among other things, maintain freedom of the press. In the words of the declaration, "It is inconceivable for a society to be democratic and free if it does not have a press that can act with absolute freedom".
Why is this legislation needed anyway? Isn't the purpose of the Jamaica Information Service to air information skewed a particular way to reflect the 'good' deeds of the Government? As it is now, each station is mandated to air between half an hour and 45 minutes worth of government content. Why is more time needed?
Will confuse the audience
Has any brilliant government minister stopped to give thought as to how this might affect the listeners and viewers of the media? Well, one definite consequence is that not only will it confuse the audience, it will also compete with the news already being presented by the various radio and television stations.
I urge the media fraternity to use the channels available to them to engage the Jamaican people in this discussion and improve their understanding of the effects of this decision. The media in Jamaica must remain the Fourth Estate.
I am, etc.,
TANEKA MUNROE