Dear Editor,
It is with no surprise the politically-motivated Guyana Media Proprietors’ Association (GMPA) has launched its attack against the issuance of radio licences. One can expect over the next few weeks more of the same as they continue their onslaught as an extension of the opposition’s agenda. The GMPA’s articulation about political advantage and disadvantage in the media undoubtedly confirms the lingering suspicion of its alignment, and what is worse, is its deliberate avoidance of truthfully providing us with the whole story about media in Guyana.
Let me for the moment point the media proprietors to Dr Roger Luncheon’s post-cabinet press briefing of January 18, which is a report on government’s business situated in the context of transparency and accountability. But more than that, if GMPA considers itself of any value to the media landscape in Guyana, other than opportunistically criticising the government, then it would address the more serious problems plaguing the media.
Why not make the media more transparent and accountable for their output, recognizing they have an important job to serve the public interest, which is their primary responsibility in relation to the information they provide to citizens, and which ought to enable the latter to make educated decisions. Too often the media view democracy as the scope of their freedom of expression, without recognizing it is also about citizens and their right to make educated decisions which requires therefore that the media communicate the whole story, fairly, objectively and accurately.
We must never forget it was the PPP/C administration which developed the media landscape in Guyana with the granting of licences to close to two dozen television stations and two newspapers. Today, among these very media outlets exist exclusive opposition stations and newscasts. Recently Leader of PNCR Robert Corbin said the following: “The Channel Six suspension is a direct assault on the political parties that are about to contest the forthcoming elections, having regard to the fact that the government has monopolized the state media and at the same time silenced the only other reasonably well aired television channel that has been receptive to the messages of other political parties.” Of course that statement speaks for itself.
I wanted to mention the foregoing specifically to highlight the commitment and hard work by the PPP/C administration to strengthen our democracy by promoting freedom of the press. By no means, does it suggest the end to interventions to protect this gain.
It might be useful for GMPA to note, in case it missed it, that more and more evidence is emerging to support the contention that the media in Guyana are used as a weapon for personal attacks, slander and revenge, an unfortunate situation we all have an opportunity to correct in the interest of taking Guyana forward.
Nowhere in the practice of good journalism does this notion suggest that the media should be irresponsible and reckless, things we have continued to witness over time. In democratic states such as Guyana, it is important for the media to pursue the public interest, observing principles, ethics and responsibility, otherwise they may deprive the very group they serve of the benefit of making educated decisions, much to their detriment.
The media have become too politicized and partisan in their pursuit of temporary gains, and in the process have exposed citizens to the serious risk of intellectual under-performance, which manifests in the appalling level of ignorance, arrogance and gullibility in the society.
When a newspaper extends to the perpetration of deliberate lies, then it is a slip too far away from real journalism, having replaced it with emotionalism and sensationalism. The pseudo-analysis, misrepresentations and distortions in the local media are a dangerous alternative to serious type journalism that can withstand scrutiny and succeed as credible, fair and balanced work.
May I bring to the GMPA’s attention that the manipulation of information in the media has reached abusive levels to say the least, because the public’s interest is short-changed in exchange for social conflict, scandal and divisions. This is a result of the media approach of promoting and disseminating falsehoods, deceit, and speculation. The danger factor is that this type of media fails in its contribution to nation-building and adds no value to the concept of accountability as citizens are forced to wallow in misunderstanding, mistrust and violence.
The need for rigid regulations may be part of the answer for the sort of reckless, irresponsible journalism we are made to endure daily, especially by the private-market press. There seems to be a view generated that only the state media have certain responsibilities, especially since they are funded by state resources without fair acknowledgment that the private media are similarly funded by public resources.
The crux of the matter is that all media, public or privately-owned, occupy the public airwaves and spectrum which is a scarce valuable resource belonging to the people, and therefore they ought to operate professionally in the public’s interest.
Yours faithfully,
Kwame Mc Coy
