Media Watch finds it interesting that the Media Association would jump to the defence (“100 per cent”) of an editor with a private advertising/communications firm who has been threatened with legal action by Udecott chairman Calder Hart.
http://guardian.co.tt/news14.html
"Matt president Joanne Briggs, in a telephone interview yesterday, said the association was also seeking legal advice at this stage “because we want to be fully aware of what is happening and what are the possibilities of the matter going further.”"
But Miss Briggs it's interesting that a few months ago when TV6 reporter Fabian Pierre had accused his colleague Charlene Stuart of racism and sent his letter (which was widely copied, and to us as well) to the Jahajee website, we can't recall hearing that your association had jumped to her defence.
So journalist on journalist threats and allegations are acceptable?
Or could it be because she is not a member of the local Media Association?
Perhaps if Mr Pierre or Miss Stuart had threatened legal action you may have shown some interest in the matter?
PS Mr Pierre, can you give us an update on the outcome of your allegations?
Saturday, May 3, 2008
WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY
The Newsday has a story from either Kennedy Swaratsingh or Neil Parsanlal on World Press Freedom Day.
http://newsday.co.tt/news/0,78175.html
Here's where the confusion lies:
"PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION Minister Kennedy Swaratsingh says the media plays an undeniable role in democratic societies globally.
Swaratsingh, in his capacity as acting Minister of Information, gave an address in observance of World Press Freedom Day, today. Parsanlal (our emphasis) said TT had consistently ranked among the top 20 countries in the world in the annual World Press Freedom Index."
Where did that name suddenly come from? At no point in that story are we told that Neil Parsanlal is the Minister of Information. Is it that Mr Parsanlal wrote the statement and Mr Swaratsingh read it, so you forgot to delete Mr Parsanlal's name?
At the end of the story, the writer says "Swaratsingh urged journalists to aim for excellence and not lose sight of their primary role as messengers of truth."
As messengers of truth, that should include getting it right.
http://newsday.co.tt/news/0,78175.html
Here's where the confusion lies:
"PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION Minister Kennedy Swaratsingh says the media plays an undeniable role in democratic societies globally.
Swaratsingh, in his capacity as acting Minister of Information, gave an address in observance of World Press Freedom Day, today. Parsanlal (our emphasis) said TT had consistently ranked among the top 20 countries in the world in the annual World Press Freedom Index."
Where did that name suddenly come from? At no point in that story are we told that Neil Parsanlal is the Minister of Information. Is it that Mr Parsanlal wrote the statement and Mr Swaratsingh read it, so you forgot to delete Mr Parsanlal's name?
At the end of the story, the writer says "Swaratsingh urged journalists to aim for excellence and not lose sight of their primary role as messengers of truth."
As messengers of truth, that should include getting it right.
Friday, May 2, 2008
ANGELS
Kudos to TV6 from one of your viewers on the angel segment.
"TV6 has started a series entitled "Angels Among us"
Now that was very thoughtful, and whether the idea is Dominic Kallipersad's or not - as Head of News he ought to take a bow.
"This one is a strong net thrown out to keep and hold your audience, in the face of increasing competition. I expect for now it will be every Friday night close to the end of the 7:00PM news cast, nice wind up to news cast.
"The first piece captured the kindness of a young gentleman who helped a woman who crashed her car, that woman happens to be TV6's Sasha Mohammed, now that made me laugh, but it was also strategic for TV6 to lead by example in such a series. And giving a token of appreciation for his kindness was also laudable.
Take a bow Dominic and TV6.
"MB"
"TV6 has started a series entitled "Angels Among us"
Now that was very thoughtful, and whether the idea is Dominic Kallipersad's or not - as Head of News he ought to take a bow.
"This one is a strong net thrown out to keep and hold your audience, in the face of increasing competition. I expect for now it will be every Friday night close to the end of the 7:00PM news cast, nice wind up to news cast.
"The first piece captured the kindness of a young gentleman who helped a woman who crashed her car, that woman happens to be TV6's Sasha Mohammed, now that made me laugh, but it was also strategic for TV6 to lead by example in such a series. And giving a token of appreciation for his kindness was also laudable.
Take a bow Dominic and TV6.
"MB"
POPULAR (ANNOYING) EXPRESSIONS
Here's a comment on journalese.
"Some Popular Expressions that can be heard and read about in the media...; The General consensus is ...Why not just the consensus is ... Isn't the consensus general anyway?
"A Lone gun man...Why not just say a gun man. And if a woman pulls the trigger would she be described as a gun woman?
"A gun man alighted from a vehicle...how does a reporter know that? And why the term alighted?; He was wielding a gun/cutlass.
"Reports are...?; Most popular in crime stories, especially over at CNC3 in Samuel Mc Knight's crime stories.
"Now you can't be too creative with crime stories, but if we tax the brain a bit surely these stories don't have to sound so tired and same.
"Tired and overused Expressions - Emotions ran high; Tensions heightened; Debate in the Parliament today became heated; More heads would roll; Residents staged a fiery/heated protest; Starting of a packaged protest story by saying X, Y, or Z protested today over...; And the ever popular he says, he says, he says or Mr./Ms so and so after every sound bite in a package, now that really comes across like a poorly written news paper article/story loaded with quotations.
"Sandra"
"Some Popular Expressions that can be heard and read about in the media...; The General consensus is ...Why not just the consensus is ... Isn't the consensus general anyway?
"A Lone gun man...Why not just say a gun man. And if a woman pulls the trigger would she be described as a gun woman?
"A gun man alighted from a vehicle...how does a reporter know that? And why the term alighted?; He was wielding a gun/cutlass.
"Reports are...?; Most popular in crime stories, especially over at CNC3 in Samuel Mc Knight's crime stories.
"Now you can't be too creative with crime stories, but if we tax the brain a bit surely these stories don't have to sound so tired and same.
"Tired and overused Expressions - Emotions ran high; Tensions heightened; Debate in the Parliament today became heated; More heads would roll; Residents staged a fiery/heated protest; Starting of a packaged protest story by saying X, Y, or Z protested today over...; And the ever popular he says, he says, he says or Mr./Ms so and so after every sound bite in a package, now that really comes across like a poorly written news paper article/story loaded with quotations.
"Sandra"
TSK TSK
C News ticker: "MP Kevin Ramnath walks out after the House Speaker tells him to behave".
Tsk tsk.
Neil Beekhee, the farmer is a graduate 'of' the University of the West Indies, not a graduate "from" as you said.
Tsk tsk.
Neil Beekhee, the farmer is a graduate 'of' the University of the West Indies, not a graduate "from" as you said.
HUH?
Miss Mohammed again. Two graphics in your "Things that make you go Huh?" segment: "Swaratsingh was once a Catholic priest" and "Priests know about keeping people's secrets".
We don't quite know what to make of those statements. Well the first one is factual, but the second one?
So if the only reason Swaratsingh is keeping the secret of the ratters is because he was trained to do so as a priest, what's the reason all the other ratters, including presumably Hazel Manning, are holding their tongues? Perhaps Mr Swaratsingh has been giving lessons? Or perhaps the ratters congregate around their Christmas DVD "Silence of the Lambs" as suggested by Gail Alexander?
And TV6 it's commendable that you named Che your first good samaritan angel, but Miss Gulston's story was confusing.
First of all the lead paragraph for the story read by Samantha John clued us in that the accident victim was a staffer from your company. And while we saw Sasha Mohammed handing over the flowers to Che and a shot of her sitting next to him halfway through the story, you never told us it was her until the story was almost over.
Then you said "what really strucked her..."
And while Samantha said viewers could call 623-5337 if they wanted to nominate a good samaritan, the number we saw on the screen was 623-6557.
We don't quite know what to make of those statements. Well the first one is factual, but the second one?
So if the only reason Swaratsingh is keeping the secret of the ratters is because he was trained to do so as a priest, what's the reason all the other ratters, including presumably Hazel Manning, are holding their tongues? Perhaps Mr Swaratsingh has been giving lessons? Or perhaps the ratters congregate around their Christmas DVD "Silence of the Lambs" as suggested by Gail Alexander?
And TV6 it's commendable that you named Che your first good samaritan angel, but Miss Gulston's story was confusing.
First of all the lead paragraph for the story read by Samantha John clued us in that the accident victim was a staffer from your company. And while we saw Sasha Mohammed handing over the flowers to Che and a shot of her sitting next to him halfway through the story, you never told us it was her until the story was almost over.
Then you said "what really strucked her..."
And while Samantha said viewers could call 623-5337 if they wanted to nominate a good samaritan, the number we saw on the screen was 623-6557.
LOVELY
Wow! Charlene Ramdhanie! Knock! Out!
(Sorry we didn't quite hear what your lead story was at 7pm Friday, something on farming, right?)
And Odeka O'Neill, thanks, you look lovely. We won't spell it out.
And about lead stories, Miss Mohammed at TV6, why only soundbites from Dr Gopeesingh on the 'food crisis'? Was he the only person from the opposition bench who made a contribution to that discussion? At least you gave us the finance minister's response.
(Sorry we didn't quite hear what your lead story was at 7pm Friday, something on farming, right?)
And Odeka O'Neill, thanks, you look lovely. We won't spell it out.
And about lead stories, Miss Mohammed at TV6, why only soundbites from Dr Gopeesingh on the 'food crisis'? Was he the only person from the opposition bench who made a contribution to that discussion? At least you gave us the finance minister's response.
MENTORSHIP
Here's a comment on our post on mentorship.
"What a commendable move by Peter Richards to have a mentorship programme.
But some Senior reporters who missed the boat need mentors as well and not young reporters alone, why not have the programme for reporters in general. Especially those very tired underpaid Senior Reporters that need a reason to go on.
And can Peter later extend this programme to frequent refresher courses for Senior Reporters?
"If the mentoring works out it would be a good move because reporters select their own mentors anyway, just that they are over seas based journalists/reporters in CNN, the BBC and similar.
The draw back to that is that reporters end up copying approaches, styles and skills without understanding why they do what they do and without understanding in some cases how they know what they know.
So way to go Peter.
"By the way Peter, can you address the seriousness of the career life of journalists being shortened because the business men that own media houses find it strategic to spit seniors out and employ young reporters who do not value the profession as much, just so they could cut cost by paying them much less.
"PH"
"What a commendable move by Peter Richards to have a mentorship programme.
But some Senior reporters who missed the boat need mentors as well and not young reporters alone, why not have the programme for reporters in general. Especially those very tired underpaid Senior Reporters that need a reason to go on.
And can Peter later extend this programme to frequent refresher courses for Senior Reporters?
"If the mentoring works out it would be a good move because reporters select their own mentors anyway, just that they are over seas based journalists/reporters in CNN, the BBC and similar.
The draw back to that is that reporters end up copying approaches, styles and skills without understanding why they do what they do and without understanding in some cases how they know what they know.
So way to go Peter.
"By the way Peter, can you address the seriousness of the career life of journalists being shortened because the business men that own media houses find it strategic to spit seniors out and employ young reporters who do not value the profession as much, just so they could cut cost by paying them much less.
"PH"
MATT MEETING SATURDAY
Here's some free advertising for the Media Association.
Hope it helps.
"The Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago will join journalists around the world in observing World Press Freedom Day this Saturday May 3 at 10.30 a.m. at CNMG's Studio A.
"MATT is inviting all media practitioners, both members and non-members of the association to come and share their concerns about threats to press freedoms in Trinidad and Tobago, whether from the public or the private sectors.
"Speakers at Saturday's forum include Angelica Hunte of United Nations Information Centre and veteran journalist Tony Fraser.
"Journalists will also have a chance to update their MATT membership."
We hope some of you will raise some of the issues we have addressed in this blog at the meeting - like media ethics, hiding political bias, pronunciation, spelling, how to write for tv, radio, print, mentorship, etc.
And just like Mr Manning, we promise not to reveal your name if you give us some details from the meeting.
PS No wajang behaviour allowed.
Hope it helps.
"The Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago will join journalists around the world in observing World Press Freedom Day this Saturday May 3 at 10.30 a.m. at CNMG's Studio A.
"MATT is inviting all media practitioners, both members and non-members of the association to come and share their concerns about threats to press freedoms in Trinidad and Tobago, whether from the public or the private sectors.
"Speakers at Saturday's forum include Angelica Hunte of United Nations Information Centre and veteran journalist Tony Fraser.
"Journalists will also have a chance to update their MATT membership."
We hope some of you will raise some of the issues we have addressed in this blog at the meeting - like media ethics, hiding political bias, pronunciation, spelling, how to write for tv, radio, print, mentorship, etc.
And just like Mr Manning, we promise not to reveal your name if you give us some details from the meeting.
PS No wajang behaviour allowed.
NEED FOR MENTORS
Peter Richards, we took to heart your point that the Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM) is going to start a mentoring programme for young journalists, pairing them with veterans so they can improve their craft.
You said you are going to make the programme available in the first instance to ten young journalists across the region. But can we suggest that you make an appeal to media houses in Trinidad and Tobago to start their own mentorship programme?
Young reporters coming into the business with little or no experience really do need someone with experience and a proven track record in the media to take them under their wing and show them some of the tricks of the trade, and help them to develop into good reporters.
PS Please suggest that each media house give out a handbook on media ethics; oh, and one on basic phonics too.
You said you are going to make the programme available in the first instance to ten young journalists across the region. But can we suggest that you make an appeal to media houses in Trinidad and Tobago to start their own mentorship programme?
Young reporters coming into the business with little or no experience really do need someone with experience and a proven track record in the media to take them under their wing and show them some of the tricks of the trade, and help them to develop into good reporters.
PS Please suggest that each media house give out a handbook on media ethics; oh, and one on basic phonics too.
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