I had made the following point yesterday
The Jamaica media suddenly seems to have become as soft as cotton candy and seems satisfied to report on what the members of the delegations wants to get reported. They are sent news releases which we readily printed and for which we are grateful, but that cannot be the end of it.
The local media fraternity is letting down the country badly !
On April 18, 2013 I asked the following question:
Why is the media allowing themselves to be trampled on by an ineffective and incompetent bunch of political clowns who represents the PNP government.
On April 22, 2013 wrote the following
The media needs to take a stand once and for all.
Enough of the crap from the Prime Minister and the Minister of Mis-Information
The point I was trying to get across was a growing unwillingness of this Portia Simpson led Government to face the press and answer tough questions. I have made the point that the media had become lazy and was willing to simply report on what they have been told via press releases vs probing for real answers.
The media is readily allowed to visit party meetings, where comrades big up themselves and blast the opposition, but when it comes unto very serious issues, the media sits and wait for an invitation and when it does not come, they simply issue what the Government wants to get reported.
What happened yesterday was not at all surprising and was coming to the local media, from whom I have virtually lost all respect, expect of course for the Cliff Hughes led NationwideNewsNetwrok, which appears to be the only news network with balls.
I say good reporting yesterday Nationwide and to the other media house, I say it was painful to watch some of Jamaica’s once powerful media between 2007 -2011, lap their tails between their legs like a shameful dog and walk out of the room, having been chased from the meeting.
Yesterday was a dark day for the Jamaican media.
I am sure the some sort of a press conference will be soon held and the media will be invited to attend so that any misunderstanding can be “cleared up”, just watch and see.
Filed under: Politics, Public Information |
Warren's Blog 
True to my belief given my knowledge of how the PNP operates. I see the Gleaner is reporting the Anthony Hylton has “invited” the media to a press conference at his Ministry , which is scheduled to begin at 11 am.
I wonder if they will “gladly” show up, anyone wants to make a guess if they will.
http://jamaica-gleaner.com/latest/article.php?id=47610
I did say in the last sentence of my post that they would soon host a press conference and true to form they have done so.
Remember, the a press conference is ALWAYS a pseudo-event – an event that exists only to be broadcast by the media with no other utility.
So what is the point of the PNP giving a press conference? To deceive the public via the media, as investigative journalism is an oxymoron in Jamaica. I do not mean deceive i the traditional sense,but manipulation of the news agenda. So the manipulation in the case of GOAT island would be for example:
-What questions are NOT asked, implicitly done via press release. For example, why do our investors have to be Chinese? Are they the only people in the world interested in Post-PanaMax shipping? Why was Fort Augusta too small? Modern ports are highly automated with RFID tags and conveyer belts. Will Jamaica benefit from this? Will the Chinese be levied for using the port, and if so, at what percentage. Has the Jamaican government been proactive in seeking investment partners AT ALL? At any point in time?
These will not be asked – the Chinese are coming, Get with the program, or get out. Chinese investment is seen as an inevitability, not a choice among the various emerging economies in the world to partner with.By not asking these questions, the media is complicit in its own uselessness.
True to form. Disrespect the media yesterday then throw some corns on the ground today and the fowls will come running. Pathetic. Simply Pathetic.
Boycott yet and have JIS cover the PM events ?
Why the soft press ?
WTF is going on ?