The Guyana Chronicle has compromised all the rules of journalistic principles

Mar 25, 2012 Letters

Dear Editor,
It is with amusement and utter disgust that I read the following opening lines of Friday’s Guyana Chronicle editorial, “To put it in its mildest term, the Kaieteur News is beyond the shadow of a doubt nakedly prostituting the noble profession of journalism and the relating freedoms that are the cornerstone of the profession. We cannot help, but make mention, that for some time, the owner and this tabloid have been engaged in an ongoing exercise of dirty, yellow, gutter journalism….”
How hypocritical. Has the editor of the Guyana Chronicle no shame? How can he justifiably accuse Kaieteur News of “nakedly prostituting the noble profession of journalism and the relating freedoms that are the cornerstone of the profession”, when he is guilty of exactly the same on the day this statement was published? Again I ask, has he no shame?
I recently wrote a letter: “Frederick Kissoon is being vilified on Facebook” that was published in both Guyana Chronicle and Kaieteur News on Friday, March 23. My letter in the Kaieteur News was published unedited. The one in the Guyana Chronicle was completely butchered. Not only did they change the caption which they’re entitled to do, but they took the liberty of deleting the meat of my story, thereby completing changing the linguistic context of my letter to appear as an attack on Freddie Kissoon, totally the opposite (http://www.guyanachronicleonline.com/site/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=41120:time-for-freddie-to-change&catid=10:letters&Itemid=6).
All my life I’ve tried to be honest, fair and objective, precious characteristics so sadly lacking in most political pundits. I call a spade, a spade. I’m proud of my objectivity despite efforts by some to label me a “soup drinker” of the ruling administration I support. So I take offense when a letter I wrote is deliberately and maliciously edited to mislead its readers, and I demand an apology from the editor of the Guyana Chronicle.
I’m aware that the Editor-in-Chief of the Guyana Chronicle may not necessarily be the one that edited Friday’s edition, for that may have been his day off. But the culprit that gutted my letter, have compromised all the rules of journalistic principles and ethics, and have discredited that publication in the process.
It may be wise for professors at the University of Guyana to make this a case-study in the curriculum for budding journalists, on what not to do when editing a story.
I could have accepted a total rejection of my letter as is often done in the Stabroek News and until recent… Guyana Chronicle. That’s the right of an editor. The selection of what letters or news releases to cover, is based on the editor’s personal and professional judgment. The main factor in that judgment can be summed up in a single word: “newsworthiness”. Unfortunately, newsworthiness is defined by an individual editor’s opinions, and are generally those that offer the most information with the most urgency to the most people. So I can accept that. I can also accept a caption change if it accurately conveys the gist of the story.
The editor has a right to edit a story for space, incorrect grammar, profanity, and to prevent libel, slander or untruths. But what the editor does not have the right to do, is to change or delete large sections of a letter or article to deliberately and maliciously convey a different story to that attributed to the author. That is libelous!
Let there be no misconception in my confidence and support for President Donald Ramotar and his Administration, but I will not allow my good name and character to be misused for the purpose of propaganda, as a tarnished reputation is very difficult, and sometimes impossible, to repair.
There are simply too many people in Guyana and throughout the diaspora who read my letters, and consider my views and analysis to be credible, to give them reasons now to second guess my objectivity. But most importantly, I want to be able to go to bed every night with peace of mind and a clear conscience.
Harry Gill

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