SUFFERING FROM MEDIA PHOBIA

Apr 10, 2017 Editorial

It is not unusual for national leaders and governments globally to hold news media at a distance, with some considering journalists too irritating, and at best should be avoided as much as possible. Very few leaders are elated when meeting the press and when they do, they call on reporters who are friendly and kind to them and are considerate of their policies. Most leaders are afraid of the press, especially if they have scandals and blunders lurking in their government or their policies are failing. Others simply have a phobia for the media for no apparent reason.
That, unfortunately, is the distinct impression given by our current President, who has held only one press conference since taking office almost two years ago. The President has occasionally spoken to individual journalists on various issues, especially on the government news programmes Public Interest and Face the Nation, where the journalist is chosen and instructed what questions to ask. The President has shied away from full-blown press conferences at which a wide array of journalists from all media houses could seek to explore issues considered of national importance.
Popular as President Granger undoubtedly was, his reluctance to hold more press conferences has adversely affected his public image of being transparent and accountable, which was a major plank of the campaign. More importantly, his consistent failure to relate openly with the news media is depriving the population of the opportunity to hear his side of the story in an atmosphere of critical, objective probing. The President has been responding to the relentless criticism of the government by the opposition through press releases.
From a purely ethical point of view, information gleaned from such conferences could be used for news stories to help the population better understand and ultimately relate to the issues at play from the government’s perspective. Other Presidents including the late Desmond Hoyte, Forbes Burnham and Cheddi Jagan have been known to have regular no-holds barred press conferences and at times they have upstaged some senior journalists.
It does not mean the aforementioned leaders were always responsive to the media. In fact, there were times when they have maintained total silence on some of the most contentious issues in order not to be misquoted by the media. A wise person once said that silence speaks volume. As President, Bharrat Jagdeo held very few press conferences. He even barred some journalists from State house and from the Office of the President. Now in opposition, he has been holding press conferences almost every week with the aim of gaining support and perhaps sympathy from the public.
We believe that the Head of State owes it to the people to hold press conferences on a regular basis. It can improve his popularity with the people, many of whom have lost confidence in him because they felt that he has not lived-up to expectations. He is yet to hold a comprehensive press briefing on the border dispute, the oil exploration, the decline of the economy, the devalue of the dollar and the high crime rate, among others which all media representatives could attend and ask him a range of questions on these and other issues for the benefit of the public.
Having regular press conferences should be an essential element in the overarching practice of transparency, accountability and good governance which are so central to our democracy and to which the President had pledged to do.
It should be incumbent on the President to hold bi-weekly press conferences to outline his policies to the people about the future direction of the country. They need not be weekly. Such a demand is reasonable. In our view, a press conference that allows for responsible probing by reporters of all relevant issues would be perfectly in order. It is essential to keep the public informed and abreast of the issues.

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