Sensational reporting is irresponsible journalism

Sensational reporting is irresponsible journalism – GECOM Chair

Jan 26, 2020 News

Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) Chair, Justice Claudette Singh, delivered a sharp reprimand to sensational reporters yesterday when she delivered an address at the beginning of a training session for journalists.

GECOM Chair, Justice Claudette Singh

The engagement, which ends today at Palm Court, is meant to ensure journalists have a comprehensive understanding of the electoral process and to define their role before, during and after Election Day.
“Resist the spin,” was her advice to a room filled with reporters. “Contextualise your stories.”
Justice Singh explained that she recently watched, listened to and read a series of very disconcerting reports.
About those, all she offered was “Sensationalised reporting is irresponsible journalism”.
The Chair explained that this message is all the more important during election season.
“[Sensational reporting] evokes emotion which may very well stimulate mistrust and violence in an already charged environment.”
Singh said “This is not cricket. During cricket season, we are all together. But I do not know what takes place during election.”
So, she has cautioned reporters, in the interest of peace and stability, “not to execute [their] functions at the expense of a peaceful society.”
The Chair said that reporters have to be careful and responsible in their journalism.
“Ensure that you have credible information. Be aware of hearsay reports. Do not act on them unless you have verified your stories.”
On GECOM’s end, she is not worried about the integrity of the election.
“…With so many safeguards implemented at very polling station, inclusive of parties’ election agents, local and international observers, the Guyana Elections Commission is cognizant that it will deliver free, fair and transparent elections on March 2, 2020.”
But this, she believes, can’t be a success without the media, who GECOM regards as a key stakeholders in the process. She said “Going forward, it is my expectation that I would read, watch and listen to objective, balanced, fair and accurate reporting.”
And “You can be assured that GECOM will endeavor to produce free and fair elections.”
The two-day training session concludes today. It is being managed and funded through a grant from the American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham).