A retrograde step

The Editor, Sir:

Your recent initiative to count the number of murders daily in bold headlines on your front page must go down on record as a retrograde step. When the Gleaner took the decision to remove the sensational 'blood and gore' stories from the front page and replace them with positive stories, I was delighted (impressed even) to see The Gleaner making a positive move to help reduce crime in Jamaica.

The frightening episodes had dominated the media for much too long. Psychologically, the Jamaican people needed a break. Unfortunately, the television stations never followed your lead. So, the society continued to get a heavy dose of 'the seamy side of life in Jamaica' daily in prime time.

Maybe you felt you were fighting a losing battle. Is this new salvo your final attack on the crime monster? As you print the painful statistics daily with such conviction, you need to consider that you could be doing more harm than good. Do us one small favour. You owe us this one. Send some of your journalists into 'the killing fields' to verify this.

In a television interview a few years ago, the late Louise Frazer-Bennett - a real 'grass-roots lady', if ever there was one - stated emphatically that "the media were contributing to the crime situation by highlighting the murder" ... on the front pages and on television. The killers continued to create mayhem in the society as they competed for bragging rights. "You see the story pon the front page o' the STAR? Me dat, you kno." "You never see my ting pon TV last night?"

I heard several approving voices when the Gleaner's front-page stories featured good news, outstanding achievers, inspiring real-life scenarios and personalities who provided motivation and hope for the rest of us. So, even if you think your initial effort was not working, it is important to stay the course. Most of the issues impacting on the crime situation are beyond most of us, but where we can make a positive contribution, we must do so without flinching.

I am, etc.,

EHW

Kingston 6