Dear Editor,

I have an issue with the way the media has been handling the iKon D Link situation. The incident where he climbed the radio tower and threatened to jump if his music wasn’t played should not have got the coverage it did and continues to get over local news.

As a matter of fact, I put that coverage in the same category as that of the incident when Wayne ‘Selassie’ Saunders was shown jumping from the Kingston Public Hospital’s third floor in 2008. It is simply careless and sloppy journalism.

This demonstrates a lapse in judgement about what should be talked about and what stories should have audiovisuals. It was fine to show images of the starving artiste descending the radio pole simply because of the human interest that is at the centre. However, the news coverage went too far when it allowed the artiste to show what limited skills he has in spitting lyrics impromptu. He successfully manipulated something as powerful as the media with a very public stunt.

While the radio station did the right thing by taking his threat to commit suicide seriously, other media outlets should have known how serious he was since he was lucid enough take a selfie and post online. Not only was this artiste’s intention made clear, but he has now been given the platform to spread the message of doing careless things such as to threaten suicide to get what you want.

The recent ER segment in which he was featured highlighted just how nonchalant he was about his actions. It is a reality that Jamaica’s music industry is characterised by a dichotomy of starving artistes versus popular ones, as well as enduring politics over airplay. Although it is the media’s role to inform people, it is, however, unwise to compromise standards.

One fool makes many and the copycat suicide culture that could ensue must be discouraged rather than hyped.

Yohan Lee

Kingston 10

yohan.s.r.lee@live.com