There has been a lot of talk in recent times about media freedom, media responsibility and democracy. One of the things that strikes me about it is that some media have a clear bias that extends from their commentaries and editorials to reporting the daily news.
While I have no problem with any media organisation having a bias based on the agenda of its owners and publishers, my view is that in order to be fair to the citizens in a free and democratic state media must deal with the news based on truth, fairness and balance.
It’s because free media have a critical role to play in keeping checks and balances on the governing system as well as other institutions and those who are the leaders in the society. By being truthful, fair and balanced media offer a service to the community they serve since people rely on what is presented in media to make decisions about their lives, including the politics of the day.
And while editorials and commentaries allow media leeway to take a clearly defined position, the ethics and conventions of journalism demand that information presented must be able to be corroborated and that anything attributed to persons or organisations is true.
Anyone who does an anlaysis of the media in Trinidad and Tobago today would see a clear bias against the present administration and some of the current ministers.
I’m not talking about fair criticism or taking the government to task. That’s the media’s role. Where the media have gone off course is when they get the stories wrong, when their investigations do not present anything except innuendoes and ‘comesse’, where commentaries are malicious and news contextualised according to a particular bias. What’s even worse is when media refuse to accept when they are wrong and instead scream persecution and threats to media freedom.
Today we see a distinct double standard. For example columnist Mariano Browne writing in the Sunday Express lectures on political morality and leadership. Browne is a former Minister in the Manning administration that was voted out office in 2010.
Some emails I have received ask the simple question: “What morality does Mariano Browne have to be pontificating about leadership and morals?”
And here is where the double standard comes into focus. The media – including the Express – have been on a witchhunt, trying to find some iota of evidence to hang the People’s Partnership’s Jack. But in spite of sending a reporter to hunt down Jack Warner’s sons in Miami and revealations about FBI and IRS investigations there still is no smoking gun. (And we’re not talking about all that went before.)
However, when Mariano Browne was clearly under investigation for alleged fraud Patrick Manning appointed him to cabinet in the finance ministry. And nobody demanded that he step aside during the investigation.
Nobody lifted a finger, there were no daily demands for him to quit and Manning kept Browne in the finance ministry until the PNM met its Waterloo on May 24, 2010.And from that day, Jack Warner became a target for the media. I don’t think so much copy has been wasted on any politician in the history of Trinidad and Tobago. I say wasted because the intent has not been to present clear and unbiased news, but really to get Jack one way or another.
When the shoe was on the other foot not a damn dog bark. In case you are wondering what’s the issue with Browne, it’s easy to find it on the Internet. But here’s a snapshot of what it was all about.
In 2007, when Browne joined the Manning PNM cabinet the Barbados Free Press ran a story stating that as far back as 2004 Browne had been accused of fraud by his former Barbados-based employer. The report said Browne’s employers alleged that he “breached his fiduciary duty” by:
Making unathorised payments to himself and others
Purchasing an unauthorised car for a “senior staffer” Cheryll Drakes using the bank’s funds
Paying unauthorised and undocumented “bonuses” to himself and other staff
Removing and destroying a laptop computer with the bank’s business records on it
Activities euphemistically called “accounting irregularities”
Other companies and persons mentioned in a lawsuit against Browne, which was apparently concealed from the public domain for three years, included CL Financial, Andre Monteil, PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Central Bank of Barbados. (And Manning put him in charge of T&T’s finance along with a lawyer, Karen Nunez-Tesheira.)
The Express carried an excellent story with all the available information but beyond that there were no demands for Browne to be removed or to be investigated. It seemed that it was sufficient that Browne and his lawyer called it “a big misunderstanding”.
Fast forward to 2010 and beyond: Jack has also said there is nothing to investigate but he has become the anti-government whipping boy. That’s how it works. Different strokes for different folks.
It’s how media play games according to their agenda. And in the process they undermine a society because instead of giving citizens a true picture of reality on which they can act, the media present THEIR picture, even if it is false, unfair and unbalanced.
You’re Invited! Hey there, residents of St. Joseph! Curious about how your community is doing? So are we! The UNC-St. Joseph team is eager to connect with you and learn more about your experiences. Join us for a walk through San Juan East this Saturday, April 20th, 2024. Look out for familiar faces like our UNC Coordinator for St. Joseph, Anil Roberts, our chairman, Amit Sooknanan, and the rest of our dedicated UNC Team. We’ll be hitting the streets and engaging with the heart of your neighborhood. Here are the details: Date: Saturday, April 20th, 2024 Time: 4:00 PM Meeting Point: Opposite the Samaan Tree Bar Whether you’ve got burning questions, suggestions, or just want to say hi, we’d love to see you there! Let’s work together to make St. Joseph an even better place to live. See you on Saturday! UNC-St. Joseph Team
We are thrilled to invite you to join us for an important meeting hosted by the United National Congress (UNC) as we gear up for the upcoming general election. Your presence and participation are highly valued as we strategize and mobilize for the future of our nation. Date: Monday, April 22, 2024 Time: 7:00 PM Venue: Williamsville Secondary School, Guaracara Tabaquite Rd, Williamsville We are honored to announce that the event will feature a special address by the Political Leader of the UNC, the Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar. Her guidance and vision will undoubtedly inspire and guide us as we embark on this journey. For those unable to attend in person, the meeting will be live-streamed on the UNC Social Media Platform, ensuring that everyone can participate and engage with the discussions.
You are cordially invited to join us as we commemorate a remarkable journey of the past and embark on the promising path to the future at the UNC 35th Anniversary, Interfaith Function, and Service Awards. Date: Sunday, April 28, 2024 Time: 1:00 PM onwards Location: UNC Headquarters, #31 Mulchan Seuchan Rd, Chaguanas This special occasion will be a celebration of unity, diversity, and service to the community. We will come together in solidarity to honor our shared history, embrace our differences, and pledge our commitment to a brighter tomorrow. Your presence will truly make this celebration complete as we reflect on the past with gratitude and look ahead with hope and determination. We eagerly anticipate your presence as we mark this significant milestone in the journey of the UNC.
Media, messages and men; it’s not always a fair game
There has been a lot of talk in recent times about media freedom, media responsibility and democracy. One of the things that strikes me about it is that some media have a clear bias that extends from their commentaries and editorials to reporting the daily news.
While I have no problem with any media organisation having a bias based on the agenda of its owners and publishers, my view is that in order to be fair to the citizens in a free and democratic state media must deal with the news based on truth, fairness and balance.
A compromised leader
And here is where the double standard comes into focus. The media – including the Express – have been on a witchhunt, trying to find some iota of evidence to hang the People’s Partnership’s Jack. But in spite of sending a reporter to hunt down Jack Warner’s sons in Miami and revealations about FBI and IRS investigations there still is no smoking gun. (And we’re not talking about all that went before.)
However, when Mariano Browne was clearly under investigation for alleged fraud Patrick Manning appointed him to cabinet in the finance ministry. And nobody demanded that he step aside during the investigation.
Nobody lifted a finger, there were no daily demands for him to quit and Manning kept Browne in the finance ministry until the PNM met its Waterloo on May 24, 2010.And from that day, Jack Warner became a target for the media. I don’t think so much copy has been wasted on any politician in the history of Trinidad and Tobago. I say wasted because the intent has not been to present clear and unbiased news, but really to get Jack one way or another.
When the shoe was on the other foot not a damn dog bark. In case you are wondering what’s the issue with Browne, it’s easy to find it on the Internet. But here’s a snapshot of what it was all about.
In 2007, when Browne joined the Manning PNM cabinet the Barbados Free Press ran a story stating that as far back as 2004 Browne had been accused of fraud by his former Barbados-based employer. The report said Browne’s employers alleged that he “breached his fiduciary duty” by:
Other companies and persons mentioned in a lawsuit against Browne, which was apparently concealed from the public domain for three years, included CL Financial, Andre Monteil, PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Central Bank of Barbados. (And Manning put him in charge of T&T’s finance along with a lawyer, Karen Nunez-Tesheira.)
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In Response to Mariano Browne
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