US Embassy workshop emphasizes importance of media freedom in development

May 18, 2014 News

By Zena Henry
In keeping with World Press Freedom Day 2014 which was celebrated some two weeks ago, the United States Embassy in Guyana has embarked on a “Media Professionalization and Development Workshop” at the Georgetown Club, dealing with the importance of the media workers and their freedom in the development process.

Ambassador Brent Hardt at Friday’s media workshop launching

This year’s World Press Freedom Day theme established by the United Nations is ‘Media Freedom for a Better Future: Shaping the post-2015 Development Agenda.’ The focus this year is on three inter-related themes: the media’s importance in development; the safety of journalists and the rule of law; and the sustainability and integrity of journalism.
Based on these important themes, Ambassador Brent Hardt said that the media workshop will address: challenges in journalism, women in media, journalistic integrity, new media, and sustainability of journalism.
“For the media to play its vital role in a democracy, it must be well-trained and hold itself to the highest professional standards.”
Ambassador Hardt expressed that since the World Press Freedom Day reception (which was held at his residence two weeks ago), “there has been a very healthy public dialogue within Guyana on issues of media freedom and responsibility…that is exactly as it should be in a vigorous democracy.”
Following the reception, Ambassador Hardt reminded that Attorney General Anil Nandlall had observed, “there is a need for journalists to receive further training so that the standards at which they operate can be raised”.
“We agree,” the Ambassador continued, highlighting the purpose of the workshop. He however, raised the question of what those journalistic standards should be, and more fundamentally, the purpose of journalism.
“The Attorney General observed that in his view some media operatives in Guyana are focused on reporting only negatives, while neglecting to report on matters that make a positive impact on the country. Compliments must also be published. Achievements and positive acts of the Government and those in Government must receive the same prominence as negative reports.”
Presidential Advisor for Governance Gail Teixeira had offered a slightly different perspective when she suggested that the media’s role is to observe, watch, write about, inform, analyze, and criticize on all aspects of development, and had cautioned against a kind of approach of being “for” or “against” government, suggesting that such an approach leads to inadequate information being provided.
The Ambassador said that, “Teixeira’s general summary is sound, and it should be adhered to by all media houses, including the state-owned media. The fact is, media is not supposed to be a cheerleader for government, but neither should it cast itself as an opponent. And neither should the media be cast as being “pro or anti-development” or “nationalist or anti-nationalist. Rather, the media’s information and analysis of developmental proposals and projects should assist citizens in understanding and assessing the merits or shortcomings of projects that will affect their futures. And its assessment of issues should always strive to avoid the emotional attachment of nationalism.”
“Journalists are not supposed to report the news based on whether it is good or bad — your purpose is to find and bring to light the truth,” the Ambassador urged.
Ambassador Hardt in his presentation to reporters said in agreement with AG Nandlall that “Indeed, there is no doubt that Guyana has progressed since the first decades of Guyana’s independence, in the increase of media outlets — but that is no reason to be satisfied with the status quo.”
“The United States believes, as do respected international press organizations, that press freedoms in Guyana can be expanded, especially with broader access to radio airwaves, more balance in state-owned media, a more equitable distribution of government advertising, and greater access to information for journalists. In fact, anyone who lived through a period of severe censorship and knows what it is like to be deprived of free-flowing, reliable information should be all the more determined to broaden freedoms in the future.”
Part of the recent debate over press freedom has involved calls for media regulation, but the Ambassador cited that, “any governmental oversight body could be a slippery slope toward just the sort of restrictions that people found so distasteful and counterproductive in previous decades. Certainly the media should strive for the highest professional and ethical standards,” the envoy told that gathering.
The Ambassador advised reporters to familiarize themselves with the two “Ps-” — preparation and persistence.” He said that they should “find a mentor — and be mentors; don’t be afraid to ask hard questions”. He said journalists should familiarize and solidify themselves in their field of coverage.