Saying Thanks

D Situation Room,,, just wants to thank everyone thus far, for commenting and sharing their views about our Media-related topics.

Third entry into the Competition

Caption  - No more bent Poles!! This iron post sits on the median of the Uriah Butler Highway and Churchill Roosevelt Intersection in the vicinity of Nestles. Those commuters heading East from South and awaiting the light can observe this very dangerous Pole on the right hand side. Now just last year major works were conducted on the multi-million dollar overpass and at no point in time did any one of the authorities find it necessary to remove this dangerously slanting pole from its location. The Pole appears to have been bent in an accident and was left there. The pole does not support at traffic signs or signal and serves no purpose. It threatens the safety of commuters and vehicles for given its deteriorating state the Pole can fall at given given time and God Forbid...on a passing or waiting vehicle.

Posted by Curious Driver from Arouca

Second entry into the Competition

Caption - Gaping manholes on public sidewalks. This hole shocked commuters who were leaving the Water Taxi Terminal in San Fernando and making their way along Flatrock, Lady Hailes Avenue, San Fernando for public Transport. Government has been urging members of the public to use the Water Taxi Service as an alternative to traffic congestion and therefore the San Fernando City Corporation has a responsibility to upgrade all supporting infrastructure to these services such as Roadways, sidewalks, public parking etc.

Sent in By - Arlene Sampson from Chaguanas 

To Produce Higher Levels Of Professionalism In The Industry...Are Media Courses The Answer?

Please click the play button to hear my report.

UWI Launches Journalism Programme







University of the West Indies St Augustine campus principal Professor Clement Sankat receives a congratulatory handshake from deputy managing director Guardian Media Limited Brandon Khan, while publisher emeritus Ken Gordon right; chief executive officer, Caribbean Communications Network, Dawn Thomas, left, and TV6 general manager Shida Bolai look on at a media briefing to launch the Certificate in Journalism programme at the campus yesterday. PHOTO: JENNIFER WATSON 28th Oct 2010

COMMENTS FROM PROFESSIONALS IN THE FIELD:

Head Of News: I’m not impressed by local or regional courses in journalism. In my experience journalists who train outside of the region come better prepared to deliver the standards of journalism that are truly required. Either giving our journalists experience in international news stations or recruiting foreign professors or media staff that are competent and well experienced may be the answer.

 Experienced TV Journalist:In my experience you learn your job and the right attitude to approach your job on the field from veterans, not through learning theories. In my experience courses with PR or Mass Communications have nothing to do with journalism. You may learn some basics regarding libel, defamation etc but paper doesn’t qualify you…it just quantifies you.

Sport Journalist: There is a measure of professionalism, good usage of the English language and some other good foundational skills. I think certificates and degrees do give you which is an asset to anyone wanting to enter the industry.  It's an important factor more now than when I entered the field, because more and more you compete against people with formal qualifications to get jobs or promotions.

What's your point of view?

First entry into the Competition

Police Vehicle Toyota 4WD PCM 8834
Was parked on St Vincent Street, Port of Spain
next to a NO PARKING sign, while the driver came out
in plain clothes and headed North.
If an officer is not complying with the law
Then who are we as civilians

Sent in by Michelle Salandy, Belmont.

9 days and SCENE!!!

Ever heard about the famous media terminology “it’s 9 day wonder”? For those who don’t and won’t believe, there have been past controversies within the media that were in essence “muted” after a certain time period..and they range from topics concerning Udecott, Udecott’s former Chairman Calder Hart, Former Prime Minister and Leader of the UNC Basdeo Panday, Former Prime Minister and leader of the PNM Patrick Manning and almost any topic under the sun..

Now working in the media myself I know for a fact that it is not very profitable to carry the same headline for more than a week and readers/viewers often grow tired of seeing the same topic in the news.

Fazeer Mohammed - Talk show host

But sure enough the so called Media hoorah over the “Government’s attack on democracy” is almost over…and coincidentally in 9 days. Let us take for example and examine the Local Media’s outrage over the “dismissal” of Talk-show host Fazeer Mohammed. 

Saturday November 6^th, 2010 – Fazeer Mohammed is informed by CEO Ken Ali that CNMG is cost cutting and he would no longer be on the morning show First Up.

-          But his sacking occurred shortly after an interview he conducted with Foreign Affairs Minister, Suruj Rambachan, during which the two had a heated discussion.  

-          During the exchange, Mohammed, responding to questions by Rambachan said his religion Islam did not condone women in leadership positions.

Sunday November 7^th, 2010- News spreads

Monday November 8^th 2010 – Fazeer Mohammed is replaced with experience morning talk show host Andy Johnson, now head of GISL

-          The dismissal of Fazeer Mohammed is the main toping of most hard hitting Radio talk shows .

-          The Opposition calls a news conference and comments on the dismissal of Fazeer Mohammed. Senator Fitzgerald Hinds claims Government is waging war on the media.

-          News breaks at all television newscasts that Fazeer Mohammed was fired.

Tuesday November 9^th 2010 – All Newspapers (except Newsday who never carried a word) Headlines Fazeer Mohammed’s dismissal.

Wednesday November 10^th 2010 – Muslims angry. Mohammed’s firing now deemed an attack on Religion. 

Thursday November 11^th 2010 – Protest action planned for PM’s arrival from Washington Trip. Answers expected

-          News breaks. PM says that Fazeer Mohammed was not fired. He was to be reincorporated into CNMG’s operations

-          Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Suruj Rambachan says he’s saddened that he was blamed for the dismissal adding that his interview with Fazeer Mohammed was a good one.

-          CNMG CEO Ken Ali says he informed Mohammed that further talks were to be held upon his dismissal and admits that his instructions were given in bad timing.

-          Muslims ‘attack’ (not physically) Andy Johnson for replacing Mohammed on First Up.

Andy Johnson -Head of GISL

Friday November 12^th 2010 – Newspapers carry headlines of Fazeer Mohammed not being actually ‘fired’

-          News of Security Intelligence Agency breaks.

Saturday November 13^th 2010 – Fazeer Mohammed say he’s not going back to CNMG

Sunday November 14^th 2010  - News break – Fazeer Mohammed takes Andy Johnson’s old job.

Is that 9 days as yet? Well not quite but as you can see, the 9 day wonder theory really does exist and the reason why I outlined the Fazeer Mohammed case is due to the fact that his dismissal or firing or whatever you call it was an actual attack on the Media. An attack that’s worth no more than 9 days.

When I thought that local media would have fought Fazeer Mohammed’s case down till the end, here comes the SIA and its juicy spy list (not to trivialize the importance of this issue) and the Media gives Fazeer Mohammed the back seat.

So what becomes of the Partnership Govenrment’s very first attack on the media? Well not much, until Fazeer Mohammed begins his stint on Morning Edition and then maybe..just maybe he’ll get a front page again.

                                           

Here's the actual interview that took place between Fazeer Mohammed and Foreign Affairs Minister Dr. Suruj Rambachan. At no point in time are any of the captions the views of d Situation Room tt.

Print Media's Role in Shaping Society's Perception: Media Coverage of Crime to create an atmosphere of fear

So, what do you do and how do you feel, when you see front page headline reports on the daily newspapers such as: “Gang War Erupts in East Port of Spain on New Years Day, Murder # 1” or “Cops kill innocent man, ” or “Boy 8 Gunned Down," or "2010 Murder toll reaches 30," or "Four Men Murdered within 24 hours,” or “Weekend Killing Spree claims the lives of 5 persons.” According to Gerbner and Gross (1976), “The mass media constantly surround us; frequently inform us; just as frequently misinform us; and, possibly, mainstream us into a common reality.” The reality of Crime and its omnipresence.

“Do these headlines and articles on the spiraling rate of crime and criminal activities limit, today, how you do what you do?”  “Do you decide to stay indoors more, go out less?” “Do you limit your activities day or night?"

Mass Media Powerful Socializing Agent

According to Raymond Ramcharitar in his book Breaking the News Media and Culture in Trinidad, he states in their book “Media Society (2003), David Groteau and William Hoynes proposed that “the mass media serve as a powerful socializing agent.” They referred to research, which showed that despite the American FBI’s reports that violent crime had been decreasing for a decade, crime coverage increased dramatically in 1991, resulting in an increase in the fear among the American public for their safety. Michael Moore argued much the same point, of manipulation of the public into paranoia-fuelled consumption by the media, in his film Bowling for Columbine and Fahrenheit 9/11. 

Does media drive discourse and fear?

Okay, so here’s another perspective from  Regents Professor David Altheide of the Arizona State University, Professor Altheide in his article entitled “Altheide says media driving discourse of fear” states, “there is now a discourse of fear that pervades society, this discourse relates to the sense that danger, dread and fear are pervasive and just around the corner.”    The headlines and newspaper reports focus on telling certain stories in a particular manner.  Overtime, the newspaper develops its own language to communicate certain issues to the national community; this new language contributes in influencing the way society thinks, thus shaping their perceptions on certain issues. 

Altheide, an expert in the use of content analysis of the media, says the language of fear has slowly built up in everyday use for more than a decade. If society becomes based on fear, Professor Altheide says, “The biggest consequence is that people will change their lives to deal with it.  Social life starts to change because of it, and we start altering our lives.”  We do not go out as much.  Architecturally, we protect ourselves with gated communities, high walls and no windows.

Anxiety, fear, change in your social life are all areas that we may well have to adjust. How has the media’s reporting of crime affected your life?

Divali in Trinidad

We here at ‘d’ Situation Room wanted to provide you with some diversity so we stepped away from the exciting (but sometimes exhaustive) topic of the Media for a bit to show you how Divali in Trinidad is celebrated.  

This year Divali is being celebrated on November 5. It also known as the festival of lights. For Hindus it is one of the most important festivals of the year and is celebrated by families who perform traditional activities together.

In Trinidad, Hindu families decorate their homes with lights consisting of hundreds of small earthen lights called diyas. Take a look at some of our photos that was taken at the Divali Nagaar in Chaguanas. 

This is a giant diya found at a booth at the Divali Nagaar.

The sari is a typical dress worn by Hindu women. It consists of several yards of light material that is draped around the body.

Here are some elephant statues displayed at the Nagaar. The most popular Hindu god is Lord Ganesha - The Elephant God. He is considered to be the "remover of obstacles" and a "bestower of prosperity." 

Statues of Hindu gods

Some typical diyas used in homes. The diyas signify the importance of light or knowledge and represent a whole circle of life

The impact foreign content has on the local media e.g. Halloween.

Please click on the 'play' button to hear the vampire recite the article.

The photo below was taken at Cave Night Club, Maraval, Trinidad. A Halloween Party on October 2009. 

The photos below were taken from foreign events and websites.

 

Muaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!

Etean Smith killed by Stepfather

Should this clip be media censored. 
Two year old Eaton Smith at Dass Funeral Home, with swelling and bruises about his legs and head. 

Media Censorship

This video sets to identify some pros and cons of Media Censorship locally and internationally. Do watch the clip and feel free to post your feedback.......

Below are two clips that have been captured by Citizen Journalist. Feel free to post comments.

Muddy Streets on Eastern Main Road, Port-of-Spain18.10.10

This was taken on the Eastern Main Road after heavy rain falls in the Port-of-Spain on Monday 18th October, 2010

PSA Protest-Massive Crowd 19.10.10

Media Exodus?

So with the election of a new Government the public saw what might be considered an exodus to a lesser extent of media personnel into politics. The move itself caused somewhat of an uproar with some claiming that the crème de la crème of the media was now sold into politics and by all means…their objectivity lost with the signing of new contracts…while others questioned the level of passion and dedication of local media personnel.

Thomas Carlyle in his book On Heroes and Hero Worship quoted Edmund Burke, the first man to apply it in a parliamentary debate in 1787 on the opening up of press reporting of the House of Commons.:
“Burke said there were Three Estates in Parliament; but, in the Reporters' Gallery yonder, there sat a Fourth Estate more important far than they all.”

Never were there truer words for if it were not for the Media, there would exist mere cobwebs linking the Parliament to the Public. For a profession whose importance has been acknowledged for centuries, there is very little you can know about the Media unless you’re in it.

So why do media workers leave a very noble profession for “greener” pastures? Local Journalist Paolo Kernanhan pretty much summed it up in his Guardian Skews article Unsubscribed Scribes dated Saturday, 18 September 2010. Kernahan noted a number of reasons why some of the best journalists vacate the media industry for what may be greener pastures, within the Government. He spoke of the clichéd poor working conditions, low salaries, the inconvenience of working weekends and public holidays and a lack of standards within the media industry.

He was also wise to note the self fulfillment gained from working in the Media, especially when your heart is in the right place. But are we looking at the big picture when we speak of a media exodus? Journalists leave the media all the time and not always for politics. I have known persons to vacate their posts for teaching, law, the private sector and the most popular the public service. Why is it that those journalists who cross over to politics receive harsher criticism for their decision?

A survey conducted by www.stuff.co.nz on Sunday 17th October 2010 asked:
If you could turn back time, would you choose a different career?


Yes-1454 votes, 71.7%

No- 573 votes, 28.3%

Total - 2027 votes





It says more than half of New Zealand's university-educated professionals would have chosen a different career if they could turn back the clock.

Meanwhile a career coaching website called Career Clarity gave 10 reasons as to why people may want to change their career.

1. I just fell into this job. It’s never really been what I want.

2. I’m bored. I’ve been doing this job for far too long, and there’s no challenge any more.

3. I’ve just finished studying and I want a career that uses my qualification.

4. I want to do something more meaningful to make a difference to people’s lives.

5. I’m fed up with scraping by. I need a career that will earn me more money.

6. I think I chose the wrong career, and I’m really unhappy doing what I’m doing.

7. I’ve been made redundant, and I want to find a career that is more stable and secure.

8. I’ve had a series of odd jobs, but I’d like a career with a proper professional career path that I can follow.

9. I’m fed up with working for someone else. I want a career where I can work for myself.

10. People say I’ve done really well for myself, but I still feel that there’s something missing. I feel that there should be more to life than this.


Maybe those persons who leave the media do so for personal reasons and for better jobs that can still benefit society. The fact remains that what may sometimes appear as a Media exodus can just be someone’s personal decision to change their career. Does it mean that their absence will create a vacuum for qualified and experienced persons and that standards may be affected? Hell yeh! But a Media exodus can also mean more opportunities for those persons willing to enter the Media and for those who really want to be there.

Citizen Fisholism

Just a little game click in the box (top right) which allows the fishes to feed on your food. Right click mouse in the box and allow the fishes to eat or continuously drag the mouse in the box and see how the follow for feed....Just like news we need to feed the public with information and allow them to give their opinions.

Investigative Journalism...A Dying Profession?

From interviewing media workers and management who work for "certain" news stations, and general consensus was...( drum roll )... investigative journalism is definitely on the decline.

Main reasons/excuses given:

• Investigative journalism was a skill that was a necessity back in the day, even for gathering basic facts for a news story before the Freedom of Information Act. However, now that getting such information is easier, so media houses and workers don't place much emphasis on this skill. 

• For television you don't need alot of information to create a newstory. You just need to write enough material to cover a minute or so of air time therefore extensive investigation may not be necessary.

• Remember, local media does have limited resources. It takes too much time and energy to create the few investigative stories during a week or month in comparison to the regular journalist who can kick out three stories a day!

In my humble opinion...I observe a "lasez faire" media culture which is widely accepted  in this country. Less effort is needed to get some of our news as footage can be copied/ripped from the internet or gotten from foriegn news networks.

Some seasoned journalists don't have a passion for their jobs anymore; doing only what is necessary to get the job done. Treating journalism as a 9-5 job and not being willing to work much longer pass the hours they have too. There isn't much pride, drive, passion... nor healthy employee rivalry or fear from external competition.

Posted by FT

Can Citizen Journalists and Professional Journalists live in the same world?

In order to answer this question, I must define what is a citizen journalist.

Most media analysts agree that a citizen journalist is an everyday person who contributes information to the news media via photos, videos, comments or general feedback.

A “professional journalist” is someone who collects information about current events, people, issues and attempts to present it in an objective way.

So can these two worlds collide? I believe so.

Lets first look at the importance of this new phenomenon – citizen journalism – is it necessary and what is its underlying objective?

Given the popularity of mobile phones especially “smart phones”, Androids, iphones etc it is possible to capture a moment of history at our fingertips. For example the 2004 tsunami in South Asia, the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Centre and the recent Haitian earthquake were all said to be captured by citizen journalists. And with the advent of and increasing popularity of social networks such as Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, Snapfish, Stumble Upon, Digg, Delicious etc. the world has seen how easy, fast and magnificent it is to upload a photo or video. A picture can literally reach around the world instantly.

Internationally, it was a normal everyday citizen that captured the first devastating plane crash of September 11, 2001. In Trinidad and Tobago, citizen journalists do their part everyday by taking photos of social ills such as uncollected garbage bins, accidents, flooding, leaking water mains, traffic violations and even physical altercations, and sending it to the television stations and newspapers. In fact the three major television stations – TV6 (U Report), CNC3 and CNMG (C Report) – each carry a segment dedicated to citizen journalism.

Even the prevalence of blogs – like blospot.com, thoughts.com, weblogs.com and the increasing popularity of Twitter.com has taken citizen journalism to a whole new level. Citizens can now present their own views on whatever topic they deem important. It is no longer limited to Letters to the Editor and interviews.

Having been involved in the media for several years I agree that citizen journalism plays an integral role in society and this is evident since Trinidad’s television stations dedicate important airtime to videos and photos from citizen journalists. However it would be remiss of me not to mention my wariness with regards to the prevalence of inaccurate material. In addition, bloggers and Twitter users may present a biased view and my concern is that once an audience consumes information, they may believe it.

All in all, I agree with http://www.net.educause.edu/ which states “citizen journalism present a more personal nuanced view of events and has the potential to cultivate communities of people with a common interest.”

Both citizen journalists and professional journalist can work together to ensure quality journalism, but of course like everything there must be checks and balances.

What do you think? Can citizen journalists and professional journalists work side by side?

Also feel free to send in your photos and videos to dsituationroomtt@gmail.com and you may be featured on this blog!

Posted by BK

Have you ever been a citizen journalist....give us your feedback on the experience..