We the media

When Prime Minister Patrick Manning "dropped in" at a radio station to complain about a broadcast by two announcers late last year there was a huge controversy that reopened the never-ending debate about media freedom and the relationship between the state and the media.

Manning defended his position that he was merely voicing an opinion and he had the right as a citizen to drop in and complain if he felt aggrieved. And he said he would do it again "if the spirit moves me".

Manning took a lot of heat for his actions but also got support from some media personnel, especially his friend and communications adviser, Louis Lee Sing, who slammed the media for causing their own troubles by their lack of professionalism. Lee Sing even challenged the media to police itself and come up with a professional code of ethics and standards to guide how the media operate in a plural society such as ours.

I hold the view that Mr. Manning was wrong to personally "drop in" on the radio station. At the same time I acknowledge that media have a responsibility to be fair and accurate and in Trinidad and Tobago that quality is wanting among many media practitioners. However, I remain strongly committed to the idea that media must be free from fear and that Manning's visit sent all the wrong signals.

It is no secret that governments everywhere become uncomfortable when they are the subject of severe criticism. It’s a natural reaction. But Manning’s insistence that he did nothing wrong and that he was exercising his rights just as any other citizen is something we in the media cannot and must not accept.

He is NOT an ordinary citizen and whether he intended it or not, his visit sent a clear signal that he would not tolerate criticism.

But while that is so, we in the media must ensure that we accept our professional responsibility. Unless truthfulness, responsibility and a commitment to fairness and balance guide our work, the government would justify the introduction of regulatory measures to keep the media in line.

And that’s what we must worry most about.

We acknowledge that without a doubt there is a fair amount of irresponsibility in the Trinidad and Tobago media, especially the electronic media. Too often citizens are exposed to unprofessional conduct from a new generation of media personnel who have no regard for truth, fairness, balance or common decency. Some of what passes for journalism borders on obscenity and hate.

The government, the opposition, businesspeople, ordinary citizens have all been victims of the media onslaught. The biggest culprit in the media is talk radio. But an analysis of media content would demonstrate that there is still a fair level of professional journalism and little evidence for a government minister to suggest that our media are "the worst in the world".

What has happened in Trinidad and Tobago is that the proliferation of 37 radio stations has caused a significant decline in broadcast and journalistic standards and that some media managers are content to put anybody in front of a mike without any consideration for the tremendous responsibility the job demands.

In this context the media must fully support any measure to improve their standards if media are to continue to be the guardians of freedom and democracy or a fourth and fifth estate.

However no government has the right to take away or infringe in any way on the right of the media to operate freely. Our constitution enshrines the right to a free press and the freedom of expression; we must accept no less.

The government of the day must must face media scrutiny of its affairs. In a democracy the media must seek out the issues on behalf of the people and report on them as fairly and objectively as they can so that the people can form an informed opinion on which they can act. That’s how democracy works.

Democracy can only flourish when there is a free and independent media. Every government - especially in small emerging nations such as ours - owes a responsibility to the people to ensure that they have access to a free and unfettered media.

Journalism's first obligation is to the truth and its first loyalty is to the citizens. And because media have an obligation to be fair and objective, its practitioners must maintain an independence from those they cover and must at all times serve as an independent monitor of power.

We must also accept that our role in a democratic society is to provide a forum for public criticism and compromise while maintaining a fair and accurate picture of the community we serve. And we must never forget that while we have a right to operate without government hindrance, citizens too - including politicians and the other primary definers of society - have rights which they will defend.

In the final analysis we mirror our society, perhaps even define an agenda, but we must never shut out dissent or allow anyone to manipulate media in such a way to prevent today's minority from becoming tomorrow's majority.