It is for this reason, we should welcome the view expressed by the Minister of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education, the Hon. Fazal Karim, at the recently launched COSTAATT’s Ken Gordon School of Journalism, that consideration be given to the licensing of journalists in Trinidad and Tobago.
In the absence of any other mechanism, introduction of this measure will certainly go a long way in weeding out imposters and in restoring some respectability to the profession.
No longer can we encourage our children to read the newspapers, listen to the radio or view the television if they wished to learn to speak and write intelligently or if they needed to be enlightened or informed with a high level of confidence and assurance in the integrity of the information to which they are exposed.
Oh how we long for a return to the standards set by radio journalists of the caliber of Sam Ghany, Doug Hatton, Hal Morrow, Ken Gordon (Radio and TV) , Freddie Wharwood, Sir Trevor Mc Donald (Radio and TV), Raoul Pantin (Radio and Press), Bob Gittens, Nazim Muradali, Electra Harris, Hans Hanoomansingh (Radio and TV), Astra Da Costa, Ashton Chambers, Dave Elcock, Kamalludin Mohammed, Leslie Fitzpatrick, Alfred Aguiton, June Gonzales (Radio and TV).
Or newspaper legends the likes of Owen Baptiste, Keith Smith, Stan Mora, Therese Mills, John Babb, Compton Delph, Patrick Chookolingo, Owen Mathurin, Andy Johnson (Press and TV) or our television personalities like Hazel Ward-Redman, Salisha Ali, Raffie Knowles, Neil Guiseppi, Dominic Kalipersad, Carla Foderingham, John Barsoti, Jai Parasram, Dale Kolasingh just to name a few.
That the impeccable legacy which these champions of journalism so painstakingly and proudly left behind is now being wantonly and uncaringly discarded borders on being sacrilegious.
Full credit must still be given to the few among the current generation who are determined at least to follow the legacy or at best to build upon it, in spite of the odds.
Recruitment practices now need to be questioned. It appears that standards have been abandoned and the yardstick is now the lower, the better.
Grammar is being mutilated, village names re-unveiled, street names change with no notice, innocent people are being re-baptised, verbs are turning all colors, obscene and distasteful language fly in the face of God, history is being rewritten, fiction replaces facts, and meaningless talk shows have cast aside intellectual curiosity, enlightened discussion, debate and creative programming.
That the impeccable legacy which these champions of journalism so painstakingly and proudly left behind is now being wantonly and uncaringly discarded borders on being sacrilegious.
Full credit must still be given to the few among the current generation who are determined at least to follow the legacy or at best to build upon it, in spite of the odds.
Recruitment practices now need to be questioned. It appears that standards have been abandoned and the yardstick is now the lower, the better.
Grammar is being mutilated, village names re-unveiled, street names change with no notice, innocent people are being re-baptised, verbs are turning all colors, obscene and distasteful language fly in the face of God, history is being rewritten, fiction replaces facts, and meaningless talk shows have cast aside intellectual curiosity, enlightened discussion, debate and creative programming.
These days, every imaginable thing is expressed “in terms of”. Vocabulary has become limited “in terms of” use, dull “in terms of” style, and boring “in terms of” presentation.
On April 14th, 2005, Andy Johnson, in an article in one of the dailies, asserted categorically that falling standards in journalism should not be taken lightly.
He was referring to demands made by the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago for the mass media to observe the highest standards of performance and behavior in their interface with the public.
On April 14th, 2005, Andy Johnson, in an article in one of the dailies, asserted categorically that falling standards in journalism should not be taken lightly.
He was referring to demands made by the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago for the mass media to observe the highest standards of performance and behavior in their interface with the public.
His call followed TATT’s threat to close down five radio stations if their journalists continued the use of unsavory remarks which endanger our peaceful coexistence or undermine or compromise values which are cherished very jealously by communities nationwide.
In support of Andy’s concerns I took the opportunity to comment publicly that “For far too long calls have been made for our journalists to establish for themselves a code of ethics and a code of professional conduct which would govern their relationship with the public at large and also dictate the quality of their behavior toward one another within their own professional circles”.
There is now an opportunity for the Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago to enlighten us all. Is there a code of ethics? Is there a code of conduct?
In support of Andy’s concerns I took the opportunity to comment publicly that “For far too long calls have been made for our journalists to establish for themselves a code of ethics and a code of professional conduct which would govern their relationship with the public at large and also dictate the quality of their behavior toward one another within their own professional circles”.
There is now an opportunity for the Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago to enlighten us all. Is there a code of ethics? Is there a code of conduct?
If not, why not? If these codes exist, what do they demand and how are they being administered? Also, what has been the record of penalties imposed due to violation of the codes?
It has long been a tradition of professional bodies to establish their own standards and to have them policed by their own membership. Nothing less should be expected from our journalists
The hint dropped by Minister Karim is yet another justifiable call for improved journalism standards around which we should all rally.
Whether licensing is the answer or not may be up for debate. The reality is that something has to be done and done expeditiously. To fail to take steps to restore the quality of journalism back to the pride of place which it once enjoyed in our beautiful country is not an option.
Roy Mitchell | October 31, 2011
It has long been a tradition of professional bodies to establish their own standards and to have them policed by their own membership. Nothing less should be expected from our journalists
The hint dropped by Minister Karim is yet another justifiable call for improved journalism standards around which we should all rally.
Whether licensing is the answer or not may be up for debate. The reality is that something has to be done and done expeditiously. To fail to take steps to restore the quality of journalism back to the pride of place which it once enjoyed in our beautiful country is not an option.
Roy Mitchell | October 31, 2011
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