ELECTION DAY - FIRST UP!

Kudos to CNMG for kick starting the election day coverage with a correspondent on the telephone from Tobago at 6:07. They were one of the few stations to think outside the box for this crucial day for coverage. Then they went to Sasha Harrinanan in south at 6.20.

TV6 started as usual with the news. But there were stories from the political rallies over the weekend with shots of supporters and symbols of the various parties. Isn't that a no-no on election day?? Then Andy Johnson came up and did the newspaper thing, then the station launched into an "address to the nation" by the EBC Chairman. But that piece was apparently supposed to be shown on Sunday evening because at one point Mr Masson said the parties should "cease campaigning at 12 midnight tonight."

CNC 3 started with Keith Clifford again doing the newspaper thing, and Cordielle came in soon afterward to interview a young man Ravi on the youth vote. Boring segment.

Sophia Khan Daniel came in to do the news at 6:30 on CNMG wearing very bold and almost shocking black and white stripes on her shirt with a very white collar. Well she confused the CG person as well because he/she put up Jessie Mae Ventour's name, then quickly rectified it. You need to keep it easy on the eye like Jessie, who was wearing more subdued stripes.

TV6 went to a recorded interview with Dr Selwyn Ryan discussing election issues, while CNC had a telephone interview with Neil Beekhee reporting from Tacarigua where he was waiting for Winston Dookeran. Then CNC had Radica Sookraj on the phone, she was waiting to see Basdeo Panday vote at Canaan Presbyterian.
CNMG then went to Mark Bassant who was also at Tacarigua awaiting the arrival of Mr Dookeran.
TV6 went to another recorded piece on women in the election race.
CNMG had Raymond Edwards on the telephone in Diego Martin reporting on some of the challenges/irregularities at a particular polling station.

CNC then had Suresh Seetaram in San Fernando relaying some irregularities with UNC supporters under a tent who were "threatened by police".

So far nothing from the field from TV6. Where were your reporters? Did you even have a plan? Over the weekend CNC 3 used their Guardian tv guide to outline a broad plan of coverage for election day, and CNMG has been keeping viewers/listeners up to date with all the election issues with their new website.

TV6 actually had content with the recorded pieces, but there was nothing else until Aiyegoro Ome came on the set with Andy at 7.48. But we are getting ahead of ourselves.

In the 7 o'clock hour, CNC 3 had Radica Sookraj on the phone reporting on the same San Fernando UNC irregularity, C News had Khrystal Rawlins on the phone in Point Fortin, and also Curtis Williams reporting live from Rio Claro, we saw live video from the polling station. Naette Lee was on the phone for C News, while WIN TV had phone interviews from Tobago.

TV6 went to a recorded interview with Courtney Boxill, and there were cover shots of Patrick Manning canvassing and on the political platform with the PNM symbol behind him. WIN TV went to
Naylan Dwarika who was at the polling station with Winston Dookeran. CNC 3 had a vox recorded by Otto Carrington with people at the Belmont Junior Secondary polling station complaining about the lack of electricity, while CNMG had Joanne Briggs on the phone in Maloney.
CNC went to an EBC Commissioner on the phone reiterating some of the rules and regulations for voting.

Then WIN TV went to Reay Greaves on the phone in Diego Martin, while CNC played a phone interview with Winston Dookeran which was recorded by Neil Beekhee. He was urging electors to vote for change. Isn't that kind of interview supposed to be used AFTER the polls are closed? Well Neil came back and said they "were spoking" with Mr Dookeran. Star struck Neil? Then he paraphrased Mr Dookeran's speech, saying Mr Dookeran is "moving ahead to take over the reins of power, and he is not aware of any accommodation between the COP and the UNC".

Gayelle had an interesting piece called "The first time I voted", with the station's personalities giving their take on their first election experience. TV6 then went to a recorded piece with Josanne Leonard interviewing Dr Bhoe Tewarie in their studio.
CNMG's radio "boss" Gail Seegobin got in on the act of reporting from her polling station. Good idea.
At 7.48 Andy Johnson had Aiyegoro Ome on the set. CNMG had Sola James on the phone from Tobago, while CNC had Otto Carrington at St Anthony's College.
Then CNC showed the video of the media interviewing Winston Dookeran. A strange sight was that the TV6 mic flag was very visible in Mr Dookeran's face, so TV6 why didn't we see any video from the polling station?

Cordielle why did you insist on saying "presbytArian" and "Elections and Boundaries Committee"?
CNC's coverage ended at 8am, while Nadalene Singh said "voting have started" in her news update. Then TV6 in their 8am report showed file video of Mr Dookeran again on the hustings, but saying that he "was expected" to vote at 6:30 am with his wife. Well why didn't your reporter at Tacarigua update you on the fact that he had already voted??

WIN TV had Janelle Pascall on the phone from Cunupia with video from the polling station, as well as they showed her interview with the PNM candidate. Again. Why show this piece before the polls close? It's still campaigning.

At 8:10 TV6 brought on Jawara Mbota on the set to join Mr Ome, while I95 covered the polling stations with several reporters on the phone around the country.

CNMG take a bow. TV6 get your act together. 8:30am and not a single live report from a polling station. STEUPS! Even WIN TV beat you to the punch.