| By Zena HenryThe general notion expressed by local reporters who recently participated in a multi-agency sponsored media improvement workshop is that the state media versus opposition media insinuation has to some extent infiltrated the purpose of the fraternity.Reporters with the workshop facilitators (seated) at last Saturday’s closing ceremony.In very frank and open discourse with international scholars Dr. Yusuf Kalyango and Mr. Andrew Alexander, reporters registered their concerns pertaining to the country’s political climate and its impact on the media environment. They were generally concerned with the dissemination of news, the constraints in gathering that news amidst the state media versus opposition media perception and their prospects of upward mobility given their “alleged political affiliations.”The media workers were attending a three-day workshop held at Moray House, Camp and Quamina Streets. This was held to edify journalists on “Democracy, Journalism, and Responsibility: Expectations for an Informed Society.” The training seminar was facilitated by two professors from the Institute for International Journalism,Cheap Nike Air Max 90 Mens Trainers, E.W. Scripps School of Journalism Ohio USA.The state media /opposition media comparison, reporters said,Cheap NFL Jerseys, is generally associated with the type of news that is carried and by the angle a media house takes on a story. They posited that if a story’s angle shines a bad light on one party, then it is assumed that the fraternity is in favour of the other party. It is especially expressed when media houses willfully omit certain things that may occur at a political function. This they said compromises the integrity of the suppose-to-be independent, balanced and fair entity.It is however believed that a former President generated the state media/ opposition media branding which filtered through almost as an ideology. Reporters complained about being branded by their own colleagues and being fingered for reportedly carrying one sided stories. But even more disturbing,Wholesale Jerseys From China, they highlighted the branding by political officials who would openly describe a reporter as an opposition or state mouthpiece.A freelance reporter who has worked with various media houses; print and television added that reporters find difficulty in leaving one media house and seeking employment at another if it is suspected that they worked for the ‘opposing side’. Although all reporters did not agree on that, it was acknowledged that there is some division between media persons and to some extent, this division is growing. It was further revealed by the same reporter that he had started his own news programme and when he did not agree to sell the increasingly popular programme to a politician,Cheap Nike Air Max 90 Online, the show stopped receiving sponsorship from the private entities that first provided funding.He charged that this division sets the wrong understanding for reporters, especially those inexperienced journalists who can easily fall prey to this false notion.Other reporters chipped in that in some cases media owners and editors disseminate information in a certain angle, or they structure the data in such a way that it is not the true reflection of the issue. They questioned how they could perform the seemingly impossible task of getting an editor who has a particular agenda to carry balanced and fair broadcasting.It was thus suggested that reporters should remind their employers of the risk of bad reporting; that is loss of integrity, transparency and ultimately public support which is the first stage of an entity maintaining its indispensability.Reporters were urged to remain resilient and to remember their function as press operatives, as facilitators were very receptive to the dilemma,Cheap NFL Jerseys, and indicated that a reporter’s job is not to take sides.Mr. Anderson, who specializes in print media, repeatedly emphasized the four fundamentals of being a reporter; that is to be independent, accurate, fair and ethical. He also stressed that reporting must confirm with the ethics of journalism and posited that the guidelines of good reporting must be embedded in every story that is told.Dr. Kalyango sparked creativity among persons in the broadcasting media; specifically television and internet. He taught that there are various ways to illustrate the news and to be balanced at the same time,Wholesale Jerseys Free Shipping, based on the angles and the parties involved in the story. Broadcast reporters saw how to present a negative story –which in this field is usually told with pictures- in a positive light, thus not making it too depressing. In this same vein, reporters were taught to present political news using various angles so not to denigrate one side. |
