Monday, March 31, 2008

SILENT BELLS?

That piece by TV6's Karen Cozier Phillip on the Shouter Baptist celebrations would have been perfect if only there was some natural sound behind her voice.
We saw a woman ringing a bell, a young man drumming and several women singing, but we did not hear any of it.
Disappointing.

FLOUR HOARDING?

Nadilene Singh of CNC 3, let's hope you return to that same supermarket on Tuesday to tell us whether they miraculously obtained sacks of flour, just one day after they said they had none.
Don't forget too that the price increase for the commodity comes into effect on Tuesday.

BIG TIE

Sampson Nanton, when you were preparing to read the midday news on CNC 3 on Monday, who helped you with your tie?
One of our readers felt the knot was too big because you have a small face, and it turned out to be a distraction.
Remember if you distract your viewer in any way, they won't be able to pay attention to what you are saying, then you and the reporters would have wasted your time.

And again at 10pm, you have a huge knot on your red tie Sampson! It really is distracting.

Friday, March 28, 2008

STALE NEWS

Poor Reverend Clive Abdulah.
He probably gave a pretty good speech at Thursday's service for lodge members, but we didn't hear much of it.
The C News cameraman did not get good audio. So in the end all we heard on the midday news was a very loud siren over parts of Rev. Abdulah's speech. Then the atmospheric sound was so loud that we saw his lips moving, but heard very little of what he said.
And to top it off, he was introduced on the screen as 'Reverand Clive Abdulah'. Tsk tsk.
The event took place Thursday morning. Was it so earth shattering that you had to use it at midday on Friday?

And TV6, why are you using a soundbite in your Friday midday newscast from Public Administration Minister Kennedy Swaratsingh from the post-cabinet news briefing that was held on Thursday, and which was broadcast live on NCC4 and CNMG?

Anyway, nice to see Bobbi Jeffrey-Hicks reading your midday newscast.
Bobbi you seem a bit stiff; relax, you are doing well.
We can just envision and anticipate your move to the main newscast at 7pm.

HILTON TOBAGO

The Newsday's Clint Chan Tack has a very strong first paragraph for his lead story on government's acquisition of the Hilton Tobago.
(http://newsday.co.tt/news/0,75830.html). His story is titled 'Govt buys Tobago Hilton'.
"GOVERNMENT yesterday announced that it will buy out the stakes held by private sector investors in the $214 million (US$34 million) Tobago Hilton to prevent the Tobago economy from collapse."

Compare that with Express reporter Juhel Browne's first paragraph; his story is titled 'Govt injects $45m in Hilton Tobago...to fix the roof'.
(http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161299759)
"Hilton Tobago, the largest and one of the newer hotels in Tobago, is in need of urgent repairs and government has agreed to immediately inject $45 million to fix the roof."

And here's the take of the Guardian's Siewdath Persad, who tried to grill Trade Minister Dr Keith Rowley on the issue during Thursday's post-cabinet news conference.
His story is titled 'Hilton Tobago to get $45m facelift' (http://guardian.co.tt/news5.html).
"Eight years after its gala opening, the Hilton Tobago has deteriorated to such an extent that it needs a significant injection of state funds to save it from further decay."

Thursday, March 27, 2008

MISSING VOICES

Media Watch hasn't heard the voices of CNC 3's Marcia Braveboy and TV6's Shabaka Kambon in a while. Are they on vacation?
We've been hearing Yolanda Morales-Carvalho and Karen Cozier Phillip on Latin America Today, which was Mr Kambon's mainstay.
If not vacation, maybe they have both bumped into the revolving door that is a feature of the T&T media?
Tsk tsk.

Tuesday, March 25, 2008

TWO CAMERAS BETTER THAN ONE

Julian Rogers, why didn't you conduct a two-camera interview with Peter July of RBTT for Prime Time T&T?
All the while you were giving your long intro in the taped interview, we didn't see you at all, but we saw Mr July fidgeting in his seat.
What you could have done even if you were only able to get one cameraman to shoot the interview was to have him record your introduction and questions to camera after the actual interview, then have the whole thing edited to look like a two camera shoot.
If this had been done properly, your audience would have been none the wiser.

COPPER HALO

Wow! IETV's Giselle McIntyre has a copper halo on her head that exactly matches her eye shadow and lipstick on the Monday 6:30pm newscast!
Giselle this is not an entertainment show, where you could possibly get away with that hairdo and makeup. You are presenting your station's main newscast.
You can save that getup for if your boss Tony Maharaj asks you to host a leg of the Tobago Jazz Festival.

And Giselle, the fugitive "excaped" from the hospital?
Tsk tsk.

Monday, March 24, 2008

"POMP" AND CEREMONY?

The Newsday has a story in Monday's edition about two men who were shot and killed in Laventille: "2 killed for Easter".
But the caption on the photo says they were killed at "Pomp" Trace.
As far as Media Watch is aware, the street is "Pump" Trace.

(http://newsday.co.tt/day/1,17263.html#foto)

CAR STORY

Sampson Nanton we liked the opening lines of your story on the man whose car plunged off the side of a bridge in south Trinidad.
And no Naette Lee, the car did not go over a precipice.

Saturday, March 22, 2008

UNVEILED?

Well we guess you've all seen the email that's been circulating about the unveiling of the blog for, what, the 4th time now?
The part that amuses us the most this time is the copy of the conversation that allegedly took place between us the blogger, alias Colleen Stuart/Holder and Charlene Stuart.
We probably would have remembered that or had a copy of it ourselves, but maybe we now have to check with Miss Khan for a copy, since she's been circulating it.
Clearly someone is out to destroy the reputation of these two young ladies.
Well ladies, all we can say is we're sorry to hear about your woes.

Now onto the business of news....Carolyn Kissoon of the Express South Bureau has a well-written story on the effect the price of steel is having on people building homes (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161297203).
This is how you give your story a personal twist before going into the hard facts. Reporters take note.
Kudos Carolyn.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

UNPRECEDENTED APOLOGY

The Daily Express in London has published a front page apology to the parents of Madeleine McCann for insinuating that they had something to do with their daughter's disappearance.

(http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/38490)

"The Daily Express today takes the unprecedented step of making a front-page apology to Kate and Gerry McCann.
We do so because we accept that a number of articles in the newspaper have suggested that the couple caused the death of their missing daughter Madeleine and then covered it up.
We acknowledge that there is no evidence whatsoever to support this theory and that Kate and Gerry are completely innocent of any involvement in their daughter's disappearance.
We trust that the suspicion that has clouded their lives for many months will soon be lifted.
As an expression of its regret, the Daily Express has now paid a very substantial sum into the Madeleine Fund and we promise to do all in our power to help efforts to find her.
Kate and Gerry, we are truly sorry to have added to your distress.
We assure you that we hope Madeleine will one day be found alive and well and will be restored to her loving family."

Tuesday, March 18, 2008

HAVE YOUR SAY

TV6 has a revamped "Viewers Comment" segment in their 7pm newscast; it's now called "Have Your Say".
It's basically the same thing as before: viewers call and give their comments about any subject, but the graphic is different, the colours are different and there are two scrolling lines of "Have Your Say" across the bottom of the screen.
Well sorry, but we've seen that somewhere before.
Oh yes. It's from the BBC!
(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/talking_point/default.stm)

The BBC's web version of "Have Your Say" allows people to upload video and pictures of the day's events, as well as emailed and voice comments.
And the tv version has a host reading some of the emails and sharing viewers' videos, usually around one topic.
Not very original TV6. You know the old saying: 'If it ain't broke...'. So come again.

GOOD SHOWING

Both CNC 3 and TV6 had interesting early morning shows on Tuesday.
Andy Johnson of TV6 took his Morning Edition crew to Laventille to speak with residents about their concerns.
Community activist Lennox Smith was of course one of the guests.
Interesting comments though from Mr Les Pierre. He said young people choose their own paths, no matter what opportunities are presented to them.
At the end of the show, the director took a wide shot of Andy with his female guest and Lennox Smith, and at their feet were two small cuddly dogs lounging quite comfortably. Very funny.

CNC 3's Early Morning Show went the way of hosting Law Association President-Elect, Martin Daly. Mr Daly should have been voted in a long time ago (that's just our opinion, as is everything else on this blog!). He presented some fresh ideas for the judicial system, including more mediation for minor offenses in order to clear the enormous backlog of cases.
At one point Hema Ramkissoon attempted to get Mr Daly to answer what he later called "a loaded question"...she wanted to know why so many lawyers are now being promoted to the position of Senior Counsel, when Mr Daly was one of the youngest and the few back in 1979.
But he gently steered the conversation back to matters concerning the Law Association, saying he was not there to talk about himself. Very smooth Mr Daly.

At one point, a caller from Maraval said she "wanted Mr Daly to come back on the CNC Morning Edition..." to continue sharing his ideas, much to the chagrin of Hema and Keith Clifford.

And while Hema both produced and hosted the show, she perhaps didn't notice the incorrect spelling of two words which were scrolling on the ticker tape at the bottom of the screen for more than 40 minutes during Mr Daly's interview.
CL Financial "to build a methamol plant in Saudi Arabia." and "...investors await an interst rate decision from the US Central Bank."
So the graphics operator, technical director, production assistant and the master control operator missed that?
Well Hema as Producer you need to ask some questions.

Monday, March 17, 2008

SORT OF A MAGIC CARPET

Raymond Edwards of C News/Talk City 91.1 FM has responded to our last post re: Carpet Ride. Here's the edited version.

"Hello D. Martine,
It’s actually a portable, rolling, synthetic surface called “Portafloor” and is used at major sporting arenas around the world to ensure that the surfaces like the field and the running track are not damaged during events of a non sporting nature.
More information on this flooring is available online at http://www.sportarena.ro/en/portafloor.htm
As you suggested I did check with the grounds staff at the Hasley Crawford Stadium and they indicated that there was no damage to either the field or the running track from those heavy vehicles because of the Portafloor.

Hope this provides some clarification on the “magic carpet”."

And here's our response:
"Thanks very much Mr Edwards for clearing that up, and we hope you don't think we were trying to be facetious.
But we, and all the other viewers you were speaking to, were not privy to that information as you were hosting the programme this morning. Maybe next time you could make such pertinent information available (leaving out the names of relevant companies so as not to provide free advertising) to the viewers, so there's no room for doubt."

CARPET RIDE

Raymond Edwards of C News, you keep saying that white carpet has been placed on the track and grass at the stadium so the cars ferrying in dignitaries for the President's inauguration will not cause any damage.
It seems you took to heart the spin someone from the organising committee gave you. You truly believe a carpet can mitigate the effects of several cars which weigh, let's say, about 3,000 pounds each?
Maybe it's a magic carpet.
Can you do us a favour? Can you just take a quick peek under the carpet before you leave the stadium and tell us what you see, good or bad? Thanks.
d.martine6@gmail.com

MAX INAUGURATED

Live coverage on CNMG long before 10:45 of all the activities at the national stadium, the arrival of kids and dignitaries for the swearing in of Professor Max Richards as President of Trinidad and Tobago for a second term.
We saw the arrival of the Chief Justice and the Prime Minister.
CNC 3 is taking a live feed from NCC Channel 4, Gayelle takes a feed from CNMG.
TV6 joined in at 9:55, just as Professor Richards' car was entering the stadium.
CNMG and TV6 have the same pictures, so it looks like they are feeding off each other, but CNMG's video is much clearer.

Sunday, March 16, 2008

PRESIDENTIAL RED NIGGER

Very engaging piece from veteran newsman Lennox Grant in the Sunday Guardian on executive jets, learning economics and presidential inaugurations (http://guardian.co.tt/lennox.html).

Here's paragraph 20:
'As the band played Scrunter’s chorus, “Wining up in a band,” the Presidential Red Nigger pretended to inspect the Regiment troopers of whom he had just become the business-suited commander in chief.'

YESTERDAY'S NEWS

The Sunday 7pm News on CNMG and TV6 should have been called "Yesterday's News".
CNMG ran two stories on events which took place on Saturday...The Consumer Affairs event at Trincity Mall (story by Golda Lee), and the protest by residents at Acono Road, Maracas, St Joseph (story by Desha Rambhajan).
And TV6 ran a story by Sharmilla Persad from yesterday's PNM General Council Meeting.
Steups!
All those events took place during daylight hours on Saturday.
Why weren't they used on the same day, and what was so earth-shattering about them that they had to be used more than 24 hours later?

At one point Nicola Barriteau of C News said "The community are...", and Diane Baldeo said "In a break in tradition...". It's usually "A break with tradition ..." or "A break from tradition...".

Saturday, March 15, 2008

"DOLE'S SON A LAWYER".....BABOOLAL KIDS?

Richard Charan of the Express has an interesting update on reputed drug lord Dole Chadee's wives and children in the Sunday Express (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161294454).
Chadee was hanged along with 8 members of his gang in 1999 for the murder of a Williamsville family.
Unfortunately according to Mr Charan's count, 10 people were hanged; "...June 4 will be nine years to the day Chadee and nine others were hanged...".

But Richard, what of the Baboolal children who survived, Osmond, then 11, and Hematie, 7? Where are they now? How have their lives turned out?

And what does this sentence mean: "Though not the temple that Chadee built on the same compound still stands."?

WHERE IS THE REST?

TV6, Charlene Stuart did a two part report on quarrying earlier in the week, and Acono Road, Maracas St Joseph was mentioned. Tonight you had a story on the residents protesting about the quarries.
But what about the rest of Miss Stuart's report? It seemed unfinished because she mentioned Vega de Oropouche on day two, but we never saw anything about that.
Where is the rest of that story Miss Stuart?

WHALES

Interesting whale story at 7pm Saturday, CNC 3.

ONCE AGAIN.....

Once again, TV6's Sasha Mohammed has a story with three soundbites from Dr Tim Gopeesingh, UNC Caroni East MP, at the top of the Saturday 7pm newscast.
Hmmmmm.

Friday, March 14, 2008

TECHNICOLOUR WARDROBE

Thanks Sampson Nanton for toning down the technicolour wardrobe for the 9:30pm news on CNC 3 on Friday.
Thursday night we observed you wearing a pink patterned tie, bold blue and white striped shirt and a green jacket with cream stripes (all in the same newscast!).
Let's take a few guesses: you got ready for the news in a dark dressing room? Your stylist took some time off? Your director was too busy preparing for the news that he/she did not see you to point out the wardrobe malfunction until it was too late?
Well the light blue shirt, grey tie and dark jacket look much better.

PROFESSOR....

C News, throughout your 7pm newscast on Friday, you spelt the crime professor's name in the ticker tape for the C News poll this way: Stephen Mastroski.
Maybe you took the incorrect spelling from the Parliament Channel or perhaps Naette Lee, who (wrote?)/voiced the story, provided the producer with the spelling.
But as far as we are aware, the good professor's name is spelt Mastrofski (http://www.gmu.edu/depts/pia/adj/faculty/biomastrof.shtml)
Tsk, tsk.

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

NO NEW ANCHOR

Well, well, Samantha John is back on the TV6 news from her vacation.
Now she is double-anchoring with Joel Villafana, at least for the sport segment.
So there's no one yet to fill the posted 'anchor' position?
What about Bobbi Jeffrey-Hicks or Diane Baldeo?

WHO WANTS TO BE PRESIDENT?

Andy Rooney of CBS' 60 Minutes has an insightful observation on why anyone would want the job of President of the United States.

(http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?rn=3906861&cl=6719372&ch=4227541&src=news)

Tuesday, March 11, 2008

ARBITRARY USE OF POWER

Columnist Tony Fraser has an insightful piece on the PM's attempt to acquire a jet through Caribbean Airlines, titled 'Our culture of acquiescence' in Wednesday's Guardian (http://guardian.co.tt/Tonyfraser.html).

In paragraph 8 he says: "The list of other leaders who have clothed themselves in red velvet while their societies struggled is a long one. The psychosis is about the acquisition and arbitrary use of power to serve inner desires."

Monday, March 10, 2008

CONFUSED

Here's a story in Monday's Express titled 'Briton on cocaine charge' written by DR. (http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161291198).

First paragraph:
"A 46-year-old Point Fortin mechanic is expected to appear before a Scarborough Magistrate today charged with possession of cocaine for the purpose of trafficking."

Is there any link to the headline?
Only in the second paragraph do they decide to clear the air on who the suspect is.

"The suspect, who is also a United Kingdom citizen, was held on Saturday by detectives of the Organised Crime Narcotics and Firearms Bureau (OCNFB)."

So. Common sense didn't pop into anyone's head that concealing the identity of the suspect in the lead paragraph would confuse the reader?
Steups!

The Guardian meantime ran the same story under the heading 'Cocaine found in suitcase', (http://guardian.co.tt/news10.html), and while they did not mention that the suspect is a UK citizen, at least their first paragraph is very clear and concise (no byline):
"A 46-year-old mechanic, who was held allegedly with an estimated $1.5 million worth in pure cocaine in his suitcase, is the latest arrest made by the Organised Crime, Narcotics and Firearms Bureau."

Sunday, March 9, 2008

BARACK AND HILLARY

Here's a well-researched, well-written piece on US Senator Barack Obama's early road to the White House presidential race from the New York Times on MSNBC, titled "Obama in Senate: Star power, minor role" (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23540579/).

There are also some hilarious editorial cartoons of both Mr Obama (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20164519/displaymode/1107/s/2/) and his Democratic rival for the White House, Senator Hillary Rodham-Clinton
(http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20202692/displaymode/1107/s/2/).

Saturday, March 8, 2008

CHARLES AND CAMILLA

A very observant reader sent us this link from the London Daily Mail.
(http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=528420&in_page_id=1770)
It's a story titled 'Royal blush: Charles and Camilla greeted by bikini-clad woman', and this was on their visit to the Coco Reef Hotel in Tobago last week.
Did any one of our enterprising journalists mention or even capture this?

The Mail also has a story on two young girls who almost drowned off Trinidad's northwest coast after their boat was forced to take a longer route to accommodate the Prince's rented yacht.
Once again, any word on this from local journalists?
(http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=528737&in_page_id=1770)

Wednesday, March 5, 2008

SOCA CAMILLA

Roxanne Stapleton-Whyms has an interesting colour piece on the arrival of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall in the Newsday titled "Soca Camilla". (http://www.newsday.co.tt/news/0,74373.html).

Sunday, March 2, 2008

FREEDOM

Kudos to media personality Errol Fabien on his Freedom Walk, and 20 years of a drug-free life.
(http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl/article_news?id=161286602)