Delivered at World Press Freedom Day Breakfast Forum - 3 May 2013
Jamaica has been ranked 13th in the world for
press freedom by Reporters Without Borders which is something for all to
celebrate especially on a day like today, and where there are so many other
countries (especially in Latin America) faced with greater press freedom
challenges. We are ranked number one in the Western Hemisphere which, though we
have become accustomed to hearing that we are number one thanks to our music
endeavours and athletic performances, should not be taken for granted.
We have some of the finest journalists in the
world and our media houses are all dedicated to maintaining transparency in our
public affairs. My litmus test of how well we are doing is the many complaints
of bias which swings like a pendulum with administrations and political parties
(and please believe that I wrote this before yesterday’s events). All signs
that we are doing our good work.
If I were to stop here in my remarks, one would
be tempted to think that everything was fine and that we should all just
applaud, conclude our breakfast and return to work. However this is not to be.
If we are so good at what we do, and our press freedom ranking is so high, then
why are we as a country so challenged? Our economy is suffering from anaemic
economic growth, with astronomical debt crowding out the private sector; a
decline in social values is manifesting itself in a high crime rate, where many
cannot discern whether even the most blatant of criminal acts is right or
wrong; corruption suffocates the life
blood of the economy, diverting much needed financial resources to non-developmental
activity; an overwhelmed justice system with inadequate capacity to make an
impressionable dent on the impunity which exists; and an education system
churning out underqualified people into the workforce. All the above serve to
constrain Jamaica's ability to keep pace with global development.
A big factor in all of these developments over
the years, but admittedly not totally responsible, are policy decisions made
from both sides of the political divide.
Ladies and gentlemen, there are many more
questions to be asked; many more difficult questions to be answered. Media
still has a considerable amount of work to do as the eyes and ears of the
average citizen.
If there is no way to shed the light on the
perpetration of all of these acts, the status quo we enjoy will either continue
into perpetuity or further deteriorate. It is well known that media only
scratches the surface in terms of exposing what is wrong with our country.
So, yes we do enjoy a great deal of press
freedom according to some standards, but, in light of the above, I will dare
say that our degree of freedom is still very much limited. Limited by:
1) the amount of effort we put into it,
2) the administrative barriers which exist for
media,
3) the economic health of media.
Let’s deal with the first; I hear, from my
experienced and more established journalist colleagues, that some of us have
become lazy, opting to go for the easier stories citing time constraints and
limited information. Solid journalism is required to navigate the issues we
have, to ensure credibility and integrity. Training and transfer of traditional
good journalistic values, along with a belief in the virtues of the craft will
help. We must accept that we must demonstrate that we responsibly discharge our
duties given the powers afforded to us. The PAJ is better qualified to speak to
this, and by my own experience is tackling this.
Secondly, there are several administrative barriers existing which deserve mention:
Libel law
Reform: The
changes to the libel laws, which are to be tabled shortly, and I must commend
the Justice Minister for giving priority to this effort which continues from
the previous administration, actually do nothing to give media more power to
pursue the truth. Apart from the abolition of criminal defamation, the changes
are housekeeping in nature. Transformational change in this arena would have
allowed for a much higher degree of scrutiny of public officials.
The Access
to Information Act: We are still struggling with the inefficiency of the process, which
often times frustrates the investigation of items of public interest in a
timely manner. The MAJ and PAJ made submissions to a parliamentary committee
some 4 years ago; we have yet to see the adoption of recommendations or
improvement in the process.
Broadcast
Regulation: We have a very active regulator in our industry who is to be commended
for their commitment to hold licensees to the high standards set. The
associated costs of their future plans however will require vast financial
resource which the regulator is seeking to recover from the regulated, through
additional fees and fines never contemplated by the industry.
Digital
Switchover: There are proposals from the regulator for massive technological
overhaul of distribution to be funded entirely by the FTA media, without what
we feel is comprehensive justification and assessment on the potential impact
for the end users; our people. Consultations are ongoing.
On the subject of economic health, the media engine is in large part fueled by a
vibrant market economy where marketing spend supports newshold and production.
News gathering and dissemination (especially the investigative type), all
critical to exercise of press freedom, require significant investment of
financial resource. The poor economy manifests itself through flat to declining
revenue spend from clients, used to cover unavoidable cost increases arising
from an inflationary environment. (And this is before the new proposals
mentioned earlier.) The result: less capacity to fund much needed news
operations. A look at publicly traded
media houses’ results over the years will support my assertion.
Now is the
time to advertise
Private sector leaders should take note: Now is
the time to advertise for collective benefit. Advertising in traditional media
is an investment far beyond exposing your product, but extends to an investment
in continued or improved transparency in governance, constructive policy and
strategic allocation of public resource to influence growth in our economy.
If you accept from what I have said today, press
freedom remains under threat by a different measure. For the auto enthusiasts
in the room, Jamaica's press freedom movement needs to be more akin to an F1
team than the horse and carriage team we are more likely to be associated with.
This should not be allowed to happen if we are to have our press freedom
measure up to the more lofty standards we should be setting for ourselves to be
truly transformational as a nation.
I could not close without giving high praise to
those front runners in an often thankless profession who commit themselves
daily to exercise and preserve the precious freedom we have. Jamaica owes a
great deal to you. Being #1 hasn't stopped my friends Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake
and Shelly Ann Fraser Pryce from taking on new challenges. I'm sure they've
learned that from you. Keep up the fight.
Today, I expounded on what was wrong with
Jamaica given the platform afforded to me. Please understand that there is so
much right with Jamaica that encourages us to tackle the wrong. This with the
hope that the Jamaica we leave for our children and grandchildren is once again
admired for its development. I can't think of a better way to kick off child
month. Let’s not kid ourselves, this is for the children.
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