tidings
Stefan Nikola
The Prime Minister has complained about the caliber of journalism in Trinidad and Tobago and other parts of the region.
He described the profession as being largely based on what he called “publish, beat, “gosh” or simply “he says, she says,” all largely, often, without context or recorded history.
“A listener, reader or viewer is not helped or educated during the democratic process when a journalist has a story that requires a counterpoint. Full stop. This is her.”
Dr Rowley argued that there must be context, a wider and deeper background within and to that story that helps the recipient.
He was delivering the keynote address at the opening of the 53rd general assembly of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) on Monday evening at the Magdalena Grand Beach & Golf Resort, Lowlands, Tobago.
The theme of the two-day event, held in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), is Writing for Media and Information.
Rowley said that journalism today must go beyond “trying to contact Mr.
“Again, that’s it. History is gone.”
Rowley said regional journalists should see every story they write as reporting on the history and uniqueness of the Caribbean condition.
“What has been argued as free and independent reporting has to be seen wider than the metropolitan model or context and carries that flavor of our West Indianism.”
He said that journalism should revisit and continue to review the volumes written on the dangers of cultural imperialism and what it has done and continues to do to the minds of West Indian people, especially its youth.
Rowley also complained that radio station schedules are “mostly American pop or worse, American gangster, as opposed to conscious West Indian music, art and drama.
“Worse, there are sections of radio frequencies devoted to the illiterate musings of hitmen, spewing free and paid outrage and slander.”
Rowley applauded the CBU and UNESCO for promoting discussion on media and information literacy for journalism, “as a clear and important counter to the clear and present dangers of misinformation and disinformation”.
He noted that the manual for the assembly referred to the main points of misinformation and disinformation dating from the era of Cleopatra in ancient Egypt to Cambridge Analytica.
Rowley said that according to verifiable reports in the British media, Cambridge Analytica’s disinformation began at TT ten to 15 years ago, then continued into the “biggest playing field” in US presidential politics.
“It’s interesting, as I speak to you today, those wheels are still turning in Washington, Arizona, Georgia, New York and in some areas here at TT.”
He called on media practitioners not to take information at face value without prior fact-checking.
“This is the age of the big lie, or simply the avalanche of ordinary or garden lies, as shame has diminished in its role as a social conditioner.
“Now we are required to spend so much of our time and resources to undo the lies in search of the truth.”
Rowley said TT is not only known for steel, calypso and soca music, but “we… are partly responsible for popularizing modern day misinformation and disinformation”.
Journalism in the developing world, he suggested, should focus on, investigate, interpret, educate and report on the development processes of countries.
Rowley added that journalists must be custodians of Caribbean history and be understanding and sympathetic to the realistic challenges facing developing islands.
“Most importantly, journalists should be able to do this without any guidance or interference from the government. As such, they must cultivate and see their world with the so-called jeweler’s eye – interpreting, educating and helping their fellow citizens to find themselves and their interests in the wider world.”
