Dear Editor,
I am so disappointed in state television’s handling of probably one of the biggest bombshell news stories of our time, the killing of Guyana’s most wanted criminal element and members of his gang. In as much as the Joint Services released news of the shootout and killing of the criminals several hours late (which is very understandable at this time since their operations could have been compromised if it had been released earlier), the National Communications Network (NCN) didn’t perform to expectations, as did most of the other local media.
In fact, our local ‘bloggers’ did a better job in providing vital information in a time-line format.
This could have been what our local media have been waiting for — their big break! NCN has the resources! Then how come they couldn’t do the job properly after news broke of the shootout and subsequent killing of the fugitives?
Again, as had happened so many times before, the populace had little or no information to go on when it mattered. Maybe all the media were concerned about last Thursday was Carifesta activities around the capital city. Maybe all their resources were directed do that event — I said, maybe.
Even so, the media were supposed to be prepared for a break in this story at any time — be it at the start, middle or ending of Carifesta, any day, night, month or hour. Not that they didn’t know that something like this would have happened — they did.
So what about one, three, five hours or so after the story first broke? Presumably NCN first broke the story to the nation and then (I am not sure) other stations in Georgetown may have known. NCN re-ran the ‘Breaking News’ segment several times between 3pm and 5pm that day. They promised more in the ‘Six ’o clock News Magazine.’ The nation was hungry for information and had very little to go on even after watching the segment titled ‘Breaking News.’
On the news programme at 6pm, we saw two photographs which NCN did not identify, a woman making a scene somewhere (she was not named nor did they say what she was saying as it was not audible) and what I believe was a quickly ‘skimmed-over’ news report.
This is what Guyanese get after months and years of our nation being gripped in turmoil by these criminals. After months of following the drama ripped right out of an action movie, this is what is dished out to us — a report that left much to be desired.
One other TV station in New Amsterdam with a daily newscast showed their newscast later that evening, taped, and mentioned not one word about the story.
News started leaking on the internet from about 7.30 pm from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, The Swiss News Agency, Agence France Presse (AFP), Reuteurs News Agency and CMC.
The blogs carried hourly written updates about the story. It is interesting to note that no photograph of the dead Rawlins was ever released up to Thursday night, yet several news organizations were calling him dead and posted photographs of Rawlins with the red graphics stamped ‘Dead.’
Then the conflicting reports by major television newscasts began to surface. The VCT ‘Evening News’ reported the Joint Services had surrounded one house then WRHM Channel Seven’s ‘Capitol News’ reported they had surrounded two houses. Other details in the story were also conflictingly reported by other media houses.
NCN brought the 5.30pm press conference on their newscast that evening. The press conference featured the Commissioner of Police (Ag) reading a report to the press about the shootout. And that was all we had. Apparently more details of the press conference were on the other newscasts in Georgetown.
As for the newspapers, only Stabroek News posted a ‘breaking news’ report on their website early Thursday evening. Even though it contained minimal information, they did a good thing by putting it up on their website. As a newspaper in Guyana, it may be one of the first places persons out of Guyana upon hearing the news may turn to for information. Much commendation must be given to the Stabroek News for their in-depth reporting throughout this whole ordeal of terror on the nation. Their stories behind the stories – ‘Fineman to Lindo Creek- the questions that linger’ on August 11, 2008 and ‘The gunmens’ great escape from Bartica’ on Sunday, August 24, 2008 were two excellent features about the issue. At least one media organization recognized the need for information for the Guyanese public about these stories and decided to investigate further and publish those two articles.
Our media, then, therefore, need to recognize the fact that it is their job to dig deeper through the surface to unearth facts, questions and logic, even while reporting on these big stories. What is supposed to be the most effective and fastest form of relaying information to the public — television — is proving to be the least accurate, timely and effective in these circumstances.
Our local ‘bloggers’ have reported that nearly six TV newscasts last Thursday night reported on the story — each conflicting with the other. They also reported that only one media house, MTV Channel Sixty-Five sent a reporter to the half-completed concrete hideout where this ongoing action drama ended. The reporter stood on the spot and made his story. That is something close to effective journalism.
The media, especially television, do not learn from their mistakes from previous occasions with previous events like the Lusignan massacre, the Bartica massacre, etc. But then the question is asked if they don’t learn or they don’t want to learn?
In ending, our nation can now breathe a sigh of relief. The Joint Services deserve kudos.
But there are others who need to be captured. After so many promises, the police have come through for us and the government has delivered. Our Guyana just might be that safe place we all knew once again.
Yours faithfully,
Leon Jameson Suseran
