ANDY JOHNSON IN DENVER 5

Here is Andy Johnson's (of the Express) final piece from the Democratic National Convention on Thursday, printed in the Friday edition.

LATE NEWS

9:03pm isn't considered late (especially if you live in the liming capital of the world, Trinidad), but for a newscast which is supposed to begin at 9pm, then that's late.
On Wednesday evening, Wendell Constantine of CNMG was carrying on a discussion on Prime Time T&T on the new national award, but for some reason he did not see it fit to end his discussion so the newscast could begin on time.
Perhaps that was a recorded interview and the master control operator did not press play at the right time?

Anyway, it seems the director tried to take back his three minutes after the newscast began, because he cut into Desha Rambhajan introducing Mark Bassant's story on the flooding.
Strange though that your producer used that story of Hillary Clinton speaking at the Democratic Convention on Tuesday night (and which had been running all day Wednesday) and completely ignored Bill Clinton, who spoke at the Convention shortly before your newscast began.

CNC 3 used some very scrappy video of the flooding in their 9:30pm newscast...the video placement did not match the three related scripts.
Odeka O'Neal read a story on Rennie Dumas commenting on the minimal effect of the rains in Tobago in his capacity as the Tobago West MP, but on the screen we saw his designation as the Labour Minister. Nowhere in that story was he referred to as the Labour Minister.
At least CNC had the sense to use a soundbite from Bill Clinton speaking at the convention on Wednesday night.

Then on Thursday night...the night when Barack Obama would give his acceptance speech...he went onto the stage at 10:11pm, with three minutes of ovations and chanting from the crowd before he said he accepted the party's nomination. This was carried live on BBC, CNN and countless other tv stations around the world.
All this while TV6's 10pm newscast was underway. They finally decided to cut in and take a link from CNN at 10:20pm, and they stayed with him for all of four minutes, before Samantha John came back up, did a brief back-announcement and went on to a story about police in Guyana killing four gunmen, then onto heavy rains in Jamaica as hurricane Gustav was passing over the island.

For the last few days, Andy Johnson has been reporting live via telephone from the convention, on both the main evening news and his own Morning Edition. The main reason he went to the convention was to see history in the making and perhaps draw comparisons/lessons from the event. But at the crucial moment when Mr Obama began his acceptance speech, unfortunately TV6 made Andy's efforts look like a pappyshow.
At least we were able to switch to the international stations and catch the speech live on I95.5.
Then to top it off, Gustav seemed super important at 10:25pm Thursday, but in TV6's first newscast at 6:20am Friday, they began with the same story that was their lead story at 7pm Thursday and there was only a passing reference to the storm way down in the newscast. The BBC had a one on one interview with Jamaican Prime Minister Bruce Golding in a packaged story.
And where was Obama? Again 'mentioned' in the international news roundup segment. Sigh!

And as if they were trying to make up for the passing reference to Gustav in the morning newscasts, at midday TV6 led their newscast with a telephone interview with CCN Correspondent Jason Julien in Kingston (no video out of Jamaica, even though the BBC had been running their story all morning).
Mr Julien answered all the questions posed to him by presenter Gerard Lampow, then just as Gerard was saying his goodbyes, Jason had one request.
"Ah just want to let muh wife know that I am ok, safe and sound, and ah tryin' to get these patties for yuh gyul!"
Bemused look on Gerard's face.
Well there's a first time for everything. So hopefully someone will coach Jason on what not to say if he is interviewed for the news at 7pm.

ANDY JOHNSON IN DENVER 4

More on this topic.

"Well Andy Johnson did a very nice relevant Caribbean related piece out of Denver in the Express Newspaper (Wednesday 27, 2008) and that is what I expected of you, great relevant Caribbean pieces that you needed time to get...it is a pity Dominic over at TV6 set you up the way he did, be it intentional or not I agree it was a set up.

"Great job Andy. Keep up the good work. Keep those pieces coming."

"PW"

ANDY JOHNSON IN DENVER 3

The comments continue to roll in on the CCN group's decision to send Andy Johnson to cover the US Democratic Convention.

"At least some of us in the media tend to get it right almost at all times, TV6's Dominic Kallipersad and other executive heads at the mighty CCN group may want to see what the BBC Caribbean focused on as its major story in the last 24 hours...see here http://www.bbc.co.uk/caribbean/

"Now, Dominic it may not have been your decision to send Andy to Denver to follow the Democratic Convention, and you may have even objected to it in favour of the Carifesta happening; I do not know for sure, but we hope at least Andy's discoveries and findings can be shared to our local politicians for consideration of fine tuning their own Convention structure.

"Nevertheless, the PNM may only give consideration to such when it is in opposition, they will be too huffed up and puffed up to even bother...meantime Andy you can enlighten us as to what is done better in the US Convention on your morning edition or better yet in a live interview during the TV6 newscast when Dominic is presenting, maybe the UNC will apply some of the tips.

"It is ok to copy only what is good. Do not Americanize, just copy what's good."

"Sandra"

WRONG MAN

Here's one for the editor of the Guardian.

"Like the Guardian editor is mixing up his business and sports stories.
In today's (Wednesday) editorial he mentions Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Gary Hunt four times but only got the correct spelling once. He kept calling the man 'Minister Hart' and not Hunt! I don't think the 'Hart' he is referring to bears any resemblance, apart from skin colour, so I don't understand that blatant mix up.
Like the editor needs an editor or what? Steups..."

"NN"

ANDY JOHNSON IN DENVER 2

Here's another comment on Andy Johnson's trip.

"Well Dominic Kallipersad (of TV6) interviewed Andy Johnson who is in Denver on behalf of the CCN group I take it, and posed to him several questions pertinent to the Caribbean.

"So Dominic, how would Andy know what Hillary or Obama would have done for the Caribbean if he did not speak to either of them?

"From the questions you posed, it was clear you were trying to justify sending Andy off to the great US of A, but it so ends up the both of you were just 'vooping'.

"Poor Andy, it was not his fault, but the experience is good for him, however in his response to the questions, he did not say anything that we would not have already read or heard about in the international media. Tough luck on that one Andy.

"Dominic knows too well a reporter is only as good as his or her last story, next time pretend your phone is not working and just return with your informed articles and do not let Dominic set you up like that again Andy. TV6 stop 'vooping' and think through what you're doing.

"And oh, what were the main points coming out of this year's Carifesta in Guyana Dominic? What was different about it this year as compared to the rage of controversy and disorganisation that plagued it in T&T last year? Were there any comparisons to the event and the performance of the Caribbean Athletes in the Beijing Olympics that you think could have augured well for the peoples of the Region and more so viewers to TV6?
It may be just words to you Dominic, but please do not deprive our children of the things that should be of interest to them."

"PH"

ANDY JOHNSON IN DENVER

Here's a comment on the Express/TV6 decision to send columnist and Morning Edition host Andy Johnson to Denver, Colorado to cover the Democratic National Convention, where Barack Obama is the party's nominated candidate to contest the presidential election.

"One should find it funny that CCN TV6 should send Andy Johnson to the Democratic Convention in Denver and not send someone to cover Carifesta (in Guyana); all of which were happening at the same time.

"Oh well, I don't know if CNMG had all the rights to the Carifesta coverage as they brought it live, and I guess the US happening is bigger, better and more relevant to our Regional causes who knows.

"I am still waiting to hear Andy make some kind of correlation with the Democratic Convention in the US and our situation in Trinidad and Tobago. Is it an Obama (black thing) and would Andy be in Denver now if Hillary was the candidate?

"I doh know, just wondering aloud."

"PH"

GUESS WHO?

Indarjit Seuraj of the Newsday is playing guessing games with his readers today.
In his story titled 'Court to hear evidence from the dead', he names the victim, the murder accused, the defence attorney, the victim's attorney, the magistrate and two of the witnesses.
But for some reason he wants us to guess at the identity of the prosecutor.
He tells us "...the State prosecutor argued that the right of the privilege vested in the hands of Bernadette’s beneficiaries under the intestacy." and "“He should be barred from taking the benefit of the privilege,” the prosecutor said.".

But here's the best hint at who the prosecutor is: "This submission caused a stir, as Hudson-Phillips expressed his “disappointment” at the Independent Senator’s remarks and disregard for the presumption of innocence."
Can you guess who this is?
Indarjit, if we wanted to play games we would pick up a crossword puzzle.

WHO TO BELIEVE? 2

And here's the Newsday's version of what happened to young Miss Subadar, who had been reported kidnapped.
She "....was found at about 7 pm Sunday on High Street, San Fernando.....was taken to the San Fernando Police Station by police officers. She confessed she was not abducted.
The girl said she went to a party with a friend, and was dropped off on High Street, San Fernando on Sunday night by her friend...,".
The newspaper also tells us "Officers of the Anti Kidnapping Squad told Newsday that no charges will be laid against the minor."

Steups! No charges, but a few slaps seem to be in order.
You know, we don't usually comment on these things, but it's high time somebody tries to get through to these young people that it's unacceptable to just disappear and expect that no one will worry and panic and call the police and have them waste their time.
They should charge her for wasting police time so she will know that when she come to visit next time, she will stay in de house until is time to go back foreign!

And maybe it's high time media houses rethink their policy (if they have any) on reporting 'kidnappings'.

WHO TO BELIEVE?

Those were the words we heard after looking at the first few minutes of the 7pm news on TV6, after having watched IETV's 6.30pm newscast.

IETV's Maxine Maharaj first told us that the teenaged American citizen who had gone missing from her relatives' Woodlands home on Saturday night and initially reported as kidnapped had returned to the home around 11pm on Sunday. IE told us the relatives said the young woman had been staying with friends. They even had a brief interview with the MP for the area, Mikela Panday who said the girl did not want to speak of her time away from her family, perhaps needing time to herself.

But TV6's version of the story read by Samantha John was that the young woman left home on Saturday evening and after she was reported kidnapped, was 'released' around 7pm on Sunday in San Fernando and picked up by police who took her to her relatives.

And here's the version in Tuesday's Guardian under the heading 'Missing teenager freed in Sando', written by AGS.
"Police said the young girl was released on High Street, San Fernando, around 7.30 pm on Sunday, and telephoned a relative from a pay phone.
The relative contacted police who picked up Subadar, and she gave a statement on her whereabouts."

And here's what the Tuesday Express tells us: "A missing girl who triggered a big search involving the Anti Kidnapping Unit returned home after being dropped off by the people she was last seen with, police said yesterday.
Sixteen-year-old Felesha Subadar was expected to be questioned about her 24 hours away from home, before police decide if anyone can be charged with a crime in the case."

Then Miss Maharaj told us that the security guard who was shot outside his home (Mr Tavernier) was ambushed by one gunman and when his wife (Ms Henry) heard the gunshot she ran outside, but when she saw the gunman she ran back inside and was pursued, cornered and shot several times. The gunman then escaped in a waiting car.

TV6's version was that the couple "were" liming outside their apartment at 5.30am when they were ambushed by a group of men who immediately shot Mr Tavernier and someone pursued his wife into the house and shot her.

Here's the version by Darryl Heeralal of the Express. "Tavernier and his wife, Sharon Henry, 43, were shot multiple times around 5.30 a.m., while they were about to leave home for work....Tavernier had just opened the front gate to the apartment's gallery when he was ambushed and shot.
Henry, who was behind Tavernier, ran back inside, followed by one of the gunmen, and was shot.
Police said the killers took Henry's gun but left Tavernier's."

And here's the version by the Guardian's Camille Clarke: "A police report revealed that the couple were at home when two gunmen stormed the premises around 4.30 am. Tavernier, the report stated, responded to a call from someone he knew."

Miss Clarke tells us "They both died on the spot.", while Mr Heeralal tells us "Both victims died on the way to the Port of Spain General Hospital."
Both newspaper reports tell us there was at least one eyewitness in the house, but this was not mentioned in the television reports.

One other thing. According to TV6, the murder figure for the year is 348, while their sister paper the Express tells us it's 354.

So who to believe?