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More care needs to be taken in editing/reproducing news items

Nov 22, 2008 Letters

Dear Editor,
What really is happening in the media? Every single day there is a misrepresentation which disguises itself as genuine reportage.

The spelling grammar, syntax punctuation, style and quality of content of published articles, notwithstanding acceptable levels of literary freedom, are sometimes of an intolerably poor standard.

Once I had asked Mr. David De Caries what was the cause of such a breakdown in the correctness and accuracy of newspaper texts. He said that not only was it increasingly difficult to get everything exactly right, but also too few persons notice the errors anyway.

Well, I might try to understand that position when a big and bold (incorrect) headline evokes a smile [e.g. (i) “Another new layer admitted to the Bar” (GC, 18/11/2008) – even though I suspect that such a headline would not elicit great mirth from the new lawyer, Tanya Hortense Patricia Warren. (No apology followed). (ii) “Stakeholders must support elimination of worn – infestation programme (SN, 18/11/2008); the word should be “worm”].

However, on an important issue like elections, one ought not to write (KN 20/11/2008) “and on a lighter note, the two (USA Ambassador Jones, GECOM Chairman, Surujbally) shared amicable views pertaining to the recently concluded U.S. elections, at which Dr. Surujbally participated as an observer from the USAID — Guyana Office”, when, in fact, the submitted Media Release documented “There was also a frank but amicable exchange of views pertaining to recent US Elections 2008, at which Dr. Surujbally participated as an Observer, with support from the USAID — Guyana Office”.

In that one sentence, the author of the article managed to make there (3) fundamental errors:
Firstly, I really don’t understand the concept of a “lighter side”. When we were discussing the many elements associated with the USA Elections 2008 — the global ramifications of the Obama victory, the impact on the economic, cultural, philosophical, social, political and religious considerations within the USA, etc — we were both very serious.

Secondly, I did not participate “as an observer from the USAID-Guyana office”. The accurate text of the GECOM Media Release is delineated in the 3rd paragraph above (vide supra).

Thirdly, the author of the article might think that the USA 2008 elections have been “concluded”. That is not accurate.

May I suggest that some more care be taken when covering GECOM’s activities, and when editing/reproducing our releases.
Dr. S. Surujbally, A.A.

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