Submitted by OLD SCHOOL
My problem with Starcom and the Nation Newspaper is that their coverage lack balance. I focus on them because no one reads the Advocate, CBC has always been CBC, we look to the Nation and VOB for some unbiased, good journalism.
I have problems with the quality of the Nation and Starcom’s coverage of issues. In my opinion, their columnists and articles in general provide very little context to the issues they opine on, and very few facts are introduced into the discussions.
For example, Sanka Price provides a solution to the cost of living by removing some taxes as done in Guyana. Does Guyana provide the same level of social services as Bim? He makes no reference to the cost of such a solution and seems totally oblivious to any trade offs involved.
Albert Brandford flags the level of NIS investment in government but gives no sense of what it used to be in previous years. A semi-decent journalist would feel the need to provide that context if he wants to make a persuasive argument.
The Nation prints that the government of Barbados has a new policy which denies non-nationals access to health care in Barbados. They know full well that is a sensitive issue. They also know full well that non nationals have access but not free of cost. I think it makes a big difference. The nation and Starcom seem content to give the impression that if a non-national turns up at the QEH or a polyclinic they will be turned away. They also know full well that it has always been the law of Bim that only permanent residents and citizens are entitled to free health care. But do they care, they print what they want anyway. I am uncomfortable with persons living and working here paying taxes and not being able to access free health care, but I have no time for misleading journalism.
I cannot help feeling that the Nation and Starcom are abusing their dominance of the media space to push and agenda and try to make Barbados look bad. It seems to me that they cannot handle the freedom to criticise.
They feared Arthur because of what he did to them when in office.
Barbados Underground 
Well, well, well,
“All these so-called intelligent commentators who masquerade as independent commentators do is exposing their ignorance.
Their biases are always evident in their writings.”
I hope you have included yourself.
I actually found the bleaching story potentially interesting. if large numbers of African people are resorting to skin whitening I would find that a major story. Maybe only political stories are educational to you. My criticism of that CBC story would be that it failed to give me any sense of how widespread the phenomenon actually is.
I lived through a period when public exprerssion of black pride was a new and ermerging thing, so if skin bleaching is now widespread I would that an intersting story and want to understand why persons want a lighter appearance.
I must admit I don’t spend much time in rum shops, but in the many public spaces that I inhabit, discussion about the PM’s silence is invariably in response to a news story about it.
If you would take the time to read the posts you would have picked up that I have no idea who is a BLP or DLP columinst and i want all columinsts to add some substance and context to their stories.
Prodigal, you know with all the discussion about non-nationals and movement of labor no one has seen it fit to give some numbers about the numbers of skilled national certificates issued by different countries in Caricom. I would focus on Starcom and the Nation on this issue because they are the ones running lots of stories on this issue.
Now if the DLP had gone ahead with freedom of information maybe I could easily access that for myself. Even a strong BEE like you would appreciate that.
@ David | April 25, 2011 at 11:57 AM |
Correct. When was it ever not so?
They do have an eye on the market David, but they are not looking at the things that concern you and the BU family.
What is the social responsibility of other dominant players in the country? Lime? Courts? BHL? COW?
Why was it so easy to get rid of the Gospel 97.5?
I would bet that it brought in the least amount of advertising revenue and this was the major factor, and not the inability to
secure another frequency from the authorities, as some would have us believe.
Every decision at Starcom and the Nation is made with the bottom line in mind. The mere fact that they are able to boast of being the dominant players in the market, seems to suggest that the majority of Bajans are supportive of this business model. Why change a formula that continues to work year after year?
I am not a fan of Starcom and have not bought a Nation newspaper in more years than I can remember but, besides the internet, where else in Barbados can one go to be informed.
Even Barbados Today is now flattering to deceive.
Old School
I can admit that I support the BLP but I am always quick to criticise them when they do crap. Will you admit your bias? I beg to differ with you on the bleaching story, it was not a top story as far as I am concerned especially bearing in mind that the constitutionally elected opposition does not get not even one minute on DLPTV. It was like one of those weird, wacky stories Jeannie Moos does on CNN.
Do you see now how people will view media matters? This is a clear case of where I see the bleach story as nonsense, you see it as interesting. I would never bleach my skin and that’s where I draw the line on its relevancy. See the point! Maybe this is how the Nation and VOB operates? Who knows?
My point is one has to read, inwardly digest and differentiate what’s relevant and discard what is not. We can agitate but we will not change the Nation or VOB much less the Advocate or DLPTV.
Re Caricom certificates, Barbados does not offer too many either, I have had the experience of someone waiting now for over five months on one and the person is very well qualified but the Barbados people seem to want the person to blow a gasket with them. Or are their actions reciprocal?
@Kracker Jack
Sadly you are correct.
Even managing BU we do appreciate how forces try to manipulate the agenda.
One of the things we like about managing BU is the alacrity with which a BU family member will kick us in the butt at the slightest notion of foolishness.
Unfortunately a passive Bajan public has been inclined to buy the nation or listen to Starcom despite the occasional chuspe.
“the nation is a blp nest and starcom as well, they are on an agenda to destabilize and bring down the current administration”
Well they helped to bring down the BLP, so what is so special about the DLP that they too can’t suffer a similar fate?
prodigal, the point of is how can you seriously discuss the issue without reference to those numbers.
Enuff,
My sentiments exactly!
Prodigal if you took the time to read my posts you would see that I am arguing that the simplistic media would be gunning for whoever was the incumbemt government rather than dealing with the real issues facing the country.
I am struggling to see how the fact that I would not bleach my skin would render signficant numbers of bajans doing so not newsworthy.
I really don’t care if the BLPites want my neck. I stand by my view. In my view, the whole thing about the PM,s silience is nothing more than Starcom and the Nation wanting the spectacle surrounding a cabinet reshuffle and the who is in and who is out, who is up and who is down drama that will follow. That is their kind of journalism. Its the kind of thing where you can revel in speculation and rumor rather than doing some real journalism.
For me that is bare bread and circuses not getting to real issues.
Real journalism is right here on BU. It can only get better.
Imagine not a single mainstream newspaper has given a detailed CV of Glyne Bannister and his company.
No company should be doing business with the GOB without the Taxpayers knowing how the company is owned and structured.
Does not matter which party is in power. The Taxpayer has a right to know.
@OLD SCHOOL
Disagree with you on the issue of Stuart’s stewardship to date. BU has provided context for a critique of PM’s Stuart leadership style on another blog.
The truth is although the discussion to date is based on the anecdotal the leadership of Stuart cannot be defined for the people. A leader gets the job done despite whatever challenges are present. Hopefully the Nation newspaper will see the benefit of a poll. Talk about selling newspapers!
Could not agree with yu more. if yu going to drop hints and suggest that there is something funny about this company as the Nation, then use your substantial resources to give us some details, do some digging, tell us who they are.
@ OLD SCHOOL
I have a serious problem with hypocrisy.
The same Nation and VoB were unrelenting in their attack on the previous government during the 12 or so months leading up to the 2008 elections. An ‘expose’ on the then government became the norm in every Friday Nation. Many of these ‘exposes’ were based on the same ‘speculation and rumour’ you now accuse the OCM subsidiaries of employing to destabilise this government.
The high level of journalism you are demanding could have very well nullified the DLP’s election campaign, which many believe was won at the now famous Haggatt Hall $75k cheque meeting.
If the media were interested in journalism then–i.e. fact-based and balanced information gathering and dissemination–rather than use the story to paint one party as corrupt and villainous, the issue of campaign finance and whether there was anything illegal or unique about a politician depositing money in his/her account ought to have been addressed.
Moreover, BOLTs and MOUs ( topical once again and attracting similar sentiments) would have been fully ventilated for the benefit of the public; instead of left untouched to be used as weapons against the BLP.
Earlier I asked about the impact FOI could have on the media and no one answered, so I shall advance one. It would force the media to do more journalism and less sensationalism to survive, as the public would no longer have to rely on their reports to know for example who received government contracts and whether they were transparent or not.
Though I still firmly believe that FOI in a small society such as ours can be abused and misused for malicious purposes, if DLP supporters are so concerned about OCM’s adverse impact on their popularity then negate their ability to do so by urging your party to intriduce FOI and integrity legislation.
well well, I am now a DLP, everything must descend into the pits of a partisan political debate.
@ OLD SCHOOL
I guess you assumed I labeled you a Dem for my use of the word ‘your’ in the last penultimate line. My apologies, I should have said ‘they party..’ (which is also grammatically correct) as I had no intention of calling you a Dem, but who the cap fit…….
By the way if you are a Dem what’s the big deal? Did you not earlier call for columnists in the traditional media to declare their hand? Well this blog also serves a justificatory function and shapes public discourse; as such you, with such strong opinions, should also declare your political stripes.
*penultimate, and ‘their’ not they
The Nation Newspaper & Starcom Network are anti-Barbados & definitely anti-Black
Every negative activity that occurs in Barbados is given prominence in The Nation with front page coverage. The occasional murder,the occasional violent act and such like are often given prominence in The Nation Newspaper.Likewise all the negative talk regarding the government performance is highlighted in The Nation Newspaper.For example, the Shanique Myrie affairs was highlighted and worked to the maximum by Starcom & Nation Newspaer with the usual slant against Barbados & its government.
The Oistins Fish Festival attracted thousands of Black Barbadians and a handful of Whites & the other ethnic groups in Barbados.Lo & behold The Nation Newspaper could only find a picture of two (2) white children playing & participating at that Festival.There were thousands of Black Barbadian children but it seems none of our Black children were good enough or beautiful enough to grace the front page of The Nation Newspaper,but two white children were able to achieve that privilege.
Highlighting non-Black people and giving them prominence in The Nation Newspaper seems to be the agenda of that company.I have notice over a period of time that at almost all social events taking place in Barbados,non-Black persons attending those events are usually highlighted with a high degree of prominence.
Starcom Network & The Nation Newspaper are a disservice to Barbados.Both of them are presenting a negative & bad image of Barbados with they daily bias & ridiculously negative reporting of events occurring in Barbados
NB The Nation has a columnist BC Pires ridiculing & insulting Barbadians & Barbados in his weekly columns.
David Ellis must have read this blog as he is in defence mode today, stoutly defending the Stuart interview which was long winded puctuated by too many aahs for a man who calims to be such a wordsmith! Not impressed at all, my spouse went to sleep!