Friday, March 24, 2006
Become a Published Writer
Media Bias and Responsible Journalism (Bahamas)
I have been compelled to write the following article to express my views on journalism and reporting in the Bahamas. The two major daily newspapers are perceived to be guilty of reporting the news in such a way that they could be perceived to be bias.
One paper is more biased that the otheraccording to feedback received. The article that is apperaing in this blog was sent to three newspaper publishers in the bahamas but the only newspaper to publish it was the Nassau Guardian, and to them I say thank you for providing a field that is leveled.
here is my feature article :
Media Bias and Responsible Journalism
I am compelled to pen my views on Media Bias and Responsible Journalism as I see it being practiced here in the Bahamas. Media bias according to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia “is the term used to describe a real or perceived bias of journalists and news producers within mass media, in the selection of which events will be reported and how they are covered. The term “media bias” usually refers to a pervasive or widespread bias contravening the standards of journalism, rather than the perspective of an individual journalists or article.”
The Society of Professional Journalism in its Preamble states b that “Members of the Society of Professional Journalists believe that the public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. The duty of the journalists is to further those ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of event and issues. Conscientious journalists from all media and specialties strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty. Professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist’s credibility. Members of the Society share a dedication to the ethical behavior and adopt this code to declare the Society’s principles and standards of practice”.
Journalists should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.
Do you believe that the journalists and media houses responsible for collecting and disseminating the news here in the Bahamas are fair and honest in their reporting of the news?
Do you believe that journalists and the media houses show a high degree of partiality especially when reporting business, social and political news?
I have observed the reporting style of the two major newspapers over the years and have come to the conclusion that it appears that they sometimes fail to distinguish between advocacy and news reporting, especially when it concerns political groups, certain social groups and
Certain mega business operations.
I believe that journalists should as far as it is humanly possible avoid conflict of interest, real or perceived, if they favour one political party over that of the other or one business over the other or one social group over that of another, it should not be shown in their reporting of the news. The field should not only appear to be level, it should be leveled in fact.
Journalists and publishers and other forms of news Medias should always be seen to be above reproach. They must be seen to be the guardian of democracy by searching for the truth and reporting it accordingly; by minimizing harm; by being ethical and by treating their sources, subjects and colleagues as human beings deserving respect.
Journalists should strive to always be seen to be acting independently and free from any form of obligation to any interest group other than that of the public’s right to know.
Many journalists and newspaper editorials are constantly clamoring for good and accountable government, today as a citizen of this great country of ours, I am asking for newspaper publishers and journalists to become accountable to the Bahamian public by providing fair, honest, independent and accurate reporting of events for the reading and listening public.
Karl Marx, wrote in his Communist Manifesto and so did the American President Benjamin Franklin in his writings, as quoted “give me twenty six lead soldiers and I will conquer the world”, I challenge you the editors of our newspapers, publishers and journalists in general, to use these “twenty six lead soldiers” for good and constructive reasons; to conquer illiteracy and ignorance among our people and to bridge the gap between the cultures and ethnicity that exist here in the Bahamas instead of dividing our people. Let your ink and paper be magnetic by bringing us together, let it be used for uplifting, let it be used for education and let it not be used for personal gain or personal prejudices or vindictiveness.
Publishers and journalists, desist from showing us that you favour one political party over that of the other, resist the temptation of reporting favourably for one business to the detriment of the other; balance the playing field through responsible and un-biased reporting; refrain from taking the position of an advocate rather than being a true independent and professional journalists; strive to be objective and not subjective. Balance your news reporting by giving both sides of a story equal weight.
I believe that good and responsible journalism is an art, one that is respected and one that assist mankind to become more civil as well as accountable and to respect the Rule of Law.
Good and responsible journalism is the reporting of news skillfully, independently, factually and devoid of bias either in fact or perceived.
As active and involved Bahamian news consumers, we should demand un-biased news reporting notwithstanding its delivery form, manner or method. We must become the vanguard to keep news reporting honest, accountable and independent by watching for their flaws in reporting and pointing them out.
According to the Honest Reporting Association of Canada, the following are seven key violations of the media s objectivity to look for, they are:
Misleading definitions and terminology
Imbalanced reporting
Opinions disguised as news
Lack of context
Selective omission
Using true facts to draw false conclusions
Distortion of facts.
Have you ever questioned why certain letter writers to the press seem to always have a letter printed? Did you ever rationalize that there perhaps are those who have opposing views? Did you ever question why their views are not being published? Did it ever occur to you that these newspapers are assuming the role of advocates rather than that of news reporting?
In conclusion, I leave you with those questions, for you to answer for yourselves as I am confident that you are intelligent and very independent in you views. Before I go I must congratulate, Vicky Kelly and Sir Arthur Foulkes, for their un-biased and straight up reporting, they give everyone their rightful due. Let’s become responsible news consumers, and stop editors, journalists, talk show hosts’ and newspaper publishers and other organizations and news Medias from practicing biased news reporting which leads to divisiveness among the citizenry.
Credit is given to the following organizations: The Society of Professional Journalism, The Honest Reporting Organization of Canada, and Wikipedia the open Encyclopedia and Rhetorica, for research materials or ideas used.
One paper is more biased that the otheraccording to feedback received. The article that is apperaing in this blog was sent to three newspaper publishers in the bahamas but the only newspaper to publish it was the Nassau Guardian, and to them I say thank you for providing a field that is leveled.
here is my feature article :
Media Bias and Responsible Journalism
I am compelled to pen my views on Media Bias and Responsible Journalism as I see it being practiced here in the Bahamas. Media bias according to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia “is the term used to describe a real or perceived bias of journalists and news producers within mass media, in the selection of which events will be reported and how they are covered. The term “media bias” usually refers to a pervasive or widespread bias contravening the standards of journalism, rather than the perspective of an individual journalists or article.”
The Society of Professional Journalism in its Preamble states b that “Members of the Society of Professional Journalists believe that the public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy. The duty of the journalists is to further those ends by seeking truth and providing a fair and comprehensive account of event and issues. Conscientious journalists from all media and specialties strive to serve the public with thoroughness and honesty. Professional integrity is the cornerstone of a journalist’s credibility. Members of the Society share a dedication to the ethical behavior and adopt this code to declare the Society’s principles and standards of practice”.
Journalists should be honest, fair and courageous in gathering, reporting and interpreting information.
Do you believe that the journalists and media houses responsible for collecting and disseminating the news here in the Bahamas are fair and honest in their reporting of the news?
Do you believe that journalists and the media houses show a high degree of partiality especially when reporting business, social and political news?
I have observed the reporting style of the two major newspapers over the years and have come to the conclusion that it appears that they sometimes fail to distinguish between advocacy and news reporting, especially when it concerns political groups, certain social groups and
Certain mega business operations.
I believe that journalists should as far as it is humanly possible avoid conflict of interest, real or perceived, if they favour one political party over that of the other or one business over the other or one social group over that of another, it should not be shown in their reporting of the news. The field should not only appear to be level, it should be leveled in fact.
Journalists and publishers and other forms of news Medias should always be seen to be above reproach. They must be seen to be the guardian of democracy by searching for the truth and reporting it accordingly; by minimizing harm; by being ethical and by treating their sources, subjects and colleagues as human beings deserving respect.
Journalists should strive to always be seen to be acting independently and free from any form of obligation to any interest group other than that of the public’s right to know.
Many journalists and newspaper editorials are constantly clamoring for good and accountable government, today as a citizen of this great country of ours, I am asking for newspaper publishers and journalists to become accountable to the Bahamian public by providing fair, honest, independent and accurate reporting of events for the reading and listening public.
Karl Marx, wrote in his Communist Manifesto and so did the American President Benjamin Franklin in his writings, as quoted “give me twenty six lead soldiers and I will conquer the world”, I challenge you the editors of our newspapers, publishers and journalists in general, to use these “twenty six lead soldiers” for good and constructive reasons; to conquer illiteracy and ignorance among our people and to bridge the gap between the cultures and ethnicity that exist here in the Bahamas instead of dividing our people. Let your ink and paper be magnetic by bringing us together, let it be used for uplifting, let it be used for education and let it not be used for personal gain or personal prejudices or vindictiveness.
Publishers and journalists, desist from showing us that you favour one political party over that of the other, resist the temptation of reporting favourably for one business to the detriment of the other; balance the playing field through responsible and un-biased reporting; refrain from taking the position of an advocate rather than being a true independent and professional journalists; strive to be objective and not subjective. Balance your news reporting by giving both sides of a story equal weight.
I believe that good and responsible journalism is an art, one that is respected and one that assist mankind to become more civil as well as accountable and to respect the Rule of Law.
Good and responsible journalism is the reporting of news skillfully, independently, factually and devoid of bias either in fact or perceived.
As active and involved Bahamian news consumers, we should demand un-biased news reporting notwithstanding its delivery form, manner or method. We must become the vanguard to keep news reporting honest, accountable and independent by watching for their flaws in reporting and pointing them out.
According to the Honest Reporting Association of Canada, the following are seven key violations of the media s objectivity to look for, they are:
Misleading definitions and terminology
Imbalanced reporting
Opinions disguised as news
Lack of context
Selective omission
Using true facts to draw false conclusions
Distortion of facts.
Have you ever questioned why certain letter writers to the press seem to always have a letter printed? Did you ever rationalize that there perhaps are those who have opposing views? Did you ever question why their views are not being published? Did it ever occur to you that these newspapers are assuming the role of advocates rather than that of news reporting?
In conclusion, I leave you with those questions, for you to answer for yourselves as I am confident that you are intelligent and very independent in you views. Before I go I must congratulate, Vicky Kelly and Sir Arthur Foulkes, for their un-biased and straight up reporting, they give everyone their rightful due. Let’s become responsible news consumers, and stop editors, journalists, talk show hosts’ and newspaper publishers and other organizations and news Medias from practicing biased news reporting which leads to divisiveness among the citizenry.
Credit is given to the following organizations: The Society of Professional Journalism, The Honest Reporting Organization of Canada, and Wikipedia the open Encyclopedia and Rhetorica, for research materials or ideas used.
