PM, beware the danger of attacking the media

Friday, December 09, 2011

PRIME Minister Andrew Holness is obviously trying to wiggle his way out of the pickle in which he and his ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) have found themselves with the media.

We take the prime minister at his word that his Government is committed to having a free press and to ensuring that journalists are allowed to do their jobs without fear.

But having made this commitment on Wednesday in an address to the Private Sector Organisation of Jamaica, Mr Holness will convince us further of his sincerity by saying the very same things at his upcoming campaign rallies. For it is in those fora — where blinkered, overzealous supporters hang on to every word of their political masters — that that kind of message needs to be spread.

This newspaper has never felt that it is above criticism, especially from politicians and other public officials who take the brunt of our animadversion. We believe we speak for other media houses. It's par for the course.

What we have an issue with, however, is the reckless use of a political platform to target journalists, knowing fully well how polarised Jamaica still is when it comes to matters of politics.

We well recall the 2007 election campaign when colleague journalists Cliff Hughes and Emily Crooks at Nationwide Radio received death threats after that station reported the results of opinion polls showing the then Opposition JLP with a constituency by constituency lead over the then governing People's National Party (PNP).

At the time, Mr Hughes told us that the death threats started immediately after Mr Donald Buchanan, the PNP general secretary then, lambasted Nationwide on a political platform in Lacovia, accusing the station of bias and reporting lies.

In that campaign as well, an angry PNP supporter tried to smash the windshield of an occupied marked Observer car at a campaign rally in St Mary a few days after Comrades were told from a campaign stage that the media were trying to influence Jamaicans to dislike the PNP president and then prime minister, Mrs Portia Simpson Miller.

To his credit, Mr Harry Douglas, a PNP parliamentarian at the time, apologised to the Observer for what he described as "vulgar and abusive behaviour".

His remorse, however, did not seem to have been shared by his leader who, days later, went onto a campaign platform in Mandeville and accused one television station of giving the JLP more airtime than the PNP in its election coverage.

Mrs Simpson Miller also accused the TV station of showing only JLP speakers whenever that party had a small crowd, but kept their camera focused only on her whenever she drew a large crowd.

Television coverage, it appears, is cherished, as we are now seeing the JLP complaining that one of their ads is not being shown by TVJ. At the same time, Mr Holness has accused the station of bias in one of its reports and seems to be suggesting that it is making heavy weather of factual errors in his address in Mandeville on Sunday night.

In the past, both the PNP and the JLP have marched on The Gleaner and the Observer respectively, and we recall a former PNP parliamentarian standing up in the Lower House and accusing this newspaper of being a mouthpiece for the National Democratic Movement simply because we dared to give that party coverage.

Jamaica has made great strides in reducing election-related violence. We should not have to spell our here the grave dangers of reversing those gains.

POST A COMMENT

You must first register and then login to be able to post a comment.

HOUSE RULES

1. We welcome reader comments on the top stories of the day. Some comments may be republished on the website or in the newspaper – email addresses will not be published.

2. Please understand that comments are moderated and it is not always possible to publish all that have been submitted. We will, however, try to publish comments that are representative of all received.

3. We ask that comments are civil and free of libellous or hateful material. Also please stick to the topic under discussion.

4. Please do not write in block capitals since this makes your comment hard to read.

5. Please don't use the comments to advertise. However, our advertising department can be more than accommodating if emailed: advertising@jamaicaobserver.com.

6. If readers wish to report offensive comments, suggest a correction or share a story then please email: community@jamaicaobserver.com.

7. Lastly, read our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy, and before commenting you need to register, conveniently, by clicking the link above.

COMMENTS (16)

Devon T
12/12/2011

it is not right for the PM to "chide" the media but the media can BASH the PM anytime...Smells like double standards to me. The headline here is reminiscient of the "beware bad dog" signs at many gates...should you choose to enter do so at your own risk...this is our territory. Fairness and Transparency wi a seh.

0o k
12/10/2011

@fall mouth
You got a few things right.
I am not .....repeat not JLP.
I do limit my thinking ......... to the facts....only the facts.
If my comments reflect that ....Then Mission accomplished!

fall mouth
12/10/2011

@Mark Forbes, after posting for sometime ppl automatically know your bias, regardless of denials. I have no problem with my bias, quite unlike the young lady who called a talk show on Thursday morning lambasting TVJ for sometime, going as far as saying she didn’t like how the presenter’s face looked when he was reading certain political news. Without being accused she denied being partisan. I say all this to say that I don’t even bother to read 0 ok anymore, not because he is JLP, but because his blogs don’t make sense…they do show limited thinking. Adam Godson is much more credible.

wanda woeman
12/10/2011

@ blog dis. I agree with you on two points. The Obs. might publish regardless, but you should see the ones they don’t. The Gleaner never publishes blogs (at least from me) that disagrees with them. The Obs will not open some stories to blogs, WHY? But tell me; do you honestly believe that the P.M. should have put those journalists at risk at an obviously partisan crowd like that? He knows that he can always call up any media boss and get “justice.”
And please don’t tell me like the Observer did, that the PNP did it. We are tired of that now. If they did, that doesn’t make it right. Remember the JLP is new and different.

0o k
12/10/2011

@Mark Forbes
My friend I have read the Bible a Chapter A Day from cover to cover.
My Grandparents had a Church in Manchester, at one time I started training to become a Sunday School Teacher.
I reject all religion, I am an Atheist therefore rather than root my arguments in Religious sophistry, I stick to the known and proven world.
You are no more arguing above my head as I am willing to humour you for a few, precious, seconds of my waking hours!

Mark Forbes
12/9/2011

Oops,! Sorry @0 ok, my bad. From your posts I should have realised that you are very limited, knowledge-wise. FYI the Second Coming (notice the caps?) refers the return of Jesus Christ. (Notice also 'next best thing'.)
Once again, my humble apologies for overestimating your abilities and for reasoning above your head.

justice justice
12/9/2011

"We take the prime minister at his word ". At his what? How can you? What the history of Mr. Holness words proved?

0o k
12/9/2011

@Mark Forbes
You are as the Jamaica Media you put words into your victims mouth then answer them to your satisfaction.
BTW Drew is not the second coming, Mr. Golding was the second time a JLP Prime Minister had to clean up the mess that Comrade Governments caused.
Mr. Golding like and errant missile, went off track, now it falls upon Drew to carrect it.
The thing about Drew is not him (although he is pretty special), it is about the renewal of Jamaican Politics.....AKA New Blood!

Mark Forbes
12/9/2011

@0 ok, the big story, the one you are studiously avoiding, is missing your always not brilliant insight. We know your wilful blindness will not allow you to see that, at the press conference, the PM reinforced the very things you say the media gets wrong about him. Don't be afraid, man. No one expects this little truth to set you free. You are just too far gone in your little fantasy that 'Drew' is the next best thing to the Second Coming.

Adam Godson
12/9/2011

So is every criticism an 'attack'? If so ,then maybe the media should itself be careful of how it 'attacks' anyone.
Are comments about the use of a US plane closed?I tried but couldnt leave one.

blog dis
12/9/2011

Its always a bad idea to attack the media but then again I am concerned about any entity/person that acts as if they are above reproach/constructive criticism. Also Observer has its preferences but has objective side as well, columnists Barbara Gloudon,Lloyd SmithBetty Blaine could hardly be described a JLP apologists @Wandawoeman etc everyday u blast this paper about bias but ur posts are on almost every article try posting something at North Street that they don’t like and see what happens!

David Armstrong
12/9/2011

The relationship between the media and politicians should be one of mutual respect. It is only in countries governed by dictators that this relationship does not exist. In developed countries like the US and Canada politicians do not intimidate journalists because journalists challenge them on issues to find out their position. It is time JA media learn to do the same thing and stop worrying about what the PM says about them. I suggest that you watch CNN Wolf Blitzer and learn from him.

0o k
12/9/2011

Media has decided on an adversarial role against Politicians, more so JLP Politicos. This has been going on for decades.
Already we see in print:
Drew cannot give a speech like Manley.
Drew's speech has no structure.
Drew is not being factually correct.
Drew is not new and different (even though I don't recall any such claim being made by him.)
Remind I of Busta was an illiterate meme. This is so, even though the man a successful businessman, was a prolific Letters to the Editor writer.

D, r. McIntyre
12/9/2011

You guys have made stride, but you have a long, long way to go, there are too much hate of self and of others in Jamaica, and many of times it shows up in the Journalist work. Someone pointing out the biases in the media is not attacking the media, be fair and balance to everyone, not only to your friends. Finally, you cannot have a candidate running for office writing article in your paper, that is being bias.
Quote of the day: The straight route to your destination may not be the best route.

wanda woeman
12/9/2011

It is instructive that you can recall PNP misdeeds and actually swing the story against them when you have a mind, but this never happens to support a PNP point.
The difference though is that never in the history of this country have the media been more accommodating to a leader than it is to Andrew Holness and the JLP. Check back how the media has treated the PNP.
I think Sir, your organ is the most biased to ever (dis)grace the media landscape in the history of journalism in this country.

Ronald Brown
12/9/2011

The title of this piece and its content are so far apart as grandpa tooth. Mr. Editor, it would seems as if you had something on your chest that you wanted to let off. Where is the balance here. I agree that the JLP and the PNP should be mindful of what is said on the platform. I believe seeing that you are doing flash backs you should include both parties in the similar manner. You come across as being bias here. Don't let us think that you have an agenda. Do you remember Mr. Vaz? conveniently

Do you feel buying into Facebook now is a good investment for the long-run?
	Yes
	No

View Results
Results published weekly in Sunday Finance

Username:
Password:

GCT to go down, white rum prices going up

PM, beware the danger of attacking the media