*From Guyana Chronicle

Good improvement by some media houses

n       others continue to breach code

THE Independent Media Monitoring Unit of the Guyana Elections Commission (GECOM) yesterday released its report for the period July 2–25.

It said some media houses have shown measurable improvement during July but others continue to breach certain aspects of the Media Code of Conduct.

After five months of monitoring and analysing media output, the unit is of the view that there is still a considerable way to go to meet the standards set out in the Media Code of Conduct.

Here is the report in full:

“It has been observed that since our last report there has been some positive movement towards fairness and balance in terms of reporting the news. For instance, some News Editors/Reporters are now more inclined to make contact with stakeholders relating to a particular issue or event to afford them an opportunity to comment whenever allegations or criticisms are made.

The Unit is encouraged by this. On the other hand, a few media houses need to take urgent action if the basic tenets of journalism - accuracy, balance and fairness - are to be achieved across the board.

In terms of television talk shows, the Unit noted with much concern that some continue to be grossly partisan and offer viewers minimal if any balanced and accurate information. The programmes ‘Square Talk’ and ‘Guyana - the Way Forward’ are two such programmes that fall
into this category.

Notwithstanding the fact that Talk Shows are recognized and defined as opinion-based programmes, hosts of these shows still have an obligation to abide by the principles governing the Media Code of Conduct, which they themselves and/or the stations they are using have duly signed.

In this elections period, Talk Show hosts should ensure that information disseminated to the public is accurate, balanced and presented in a fair manner. The public deserves no less.

In a few of the media outlets monitored by the MMU it has been observed that generally there is need for more in-depth investigative reporting on matters of importance. The Unit has found that in some instances information was presented to the public without any proper research or investigative work being done, leaving consumers of the media without the requisite information necessary to understand and interpret important issues, particularly those relating to the upcoming elections.

Examples of this are documented in this report.

With regards to the airing of GINA programmes in both the state and private media, for example: ‘The President’s Diary’, ‘The Fact’, ‘Weekly Digest’ and ‘GINA Features’, the Unit notes with some concern that though, some of these programmes contain issues related to national development, others are clearly political and intended to advance the cause of the ruling party. This gives the incumbent PPP/C Government an unfair advantage over the other political parties.

Moreover, after continuously monitoring and analysing the contents of some of these programmes the Unit has found that they include elements of partisan political campaigning in the guise of ‘Government business’.

In this report we have included a brief analysis of the Berbice-based television stations. These stations did not sign the Media Code of Conduct in the initial stage, however, they have agreed to do so soon.

Included also are charts which show the degree and share of media coverage given to political parties by each of the media houses.

Also noted in this report are examples of lack of balance, accuracy and fairness, as well as other areas of concern set out in the Media Code of Conduct.

TOWN MEETING ON MEDIA

The Independent Refereeing Panel will on Tuesday August 15, 2006, from 6 pm to 7.30 pm, at the Georgetown Club on Camp Street, hold a "town meeting", bringing together a representative group of readers, listeners and viewers of the media to promote public ownership and effective use of the Media Code for Conduct.

On the theme, "BE HEARD! LISTEN!", representatives of political parties, trade unions, business, churches, youth, professionals, non-government organisations, and other organisations will explore the opportunities offered by the Media Code of Conduct for monitoring how the media live up to their responsibilities and commitments.

Adopted in January 2006, the Media Code of Conduct, which embodies the freely-given commitment by the Guyanese media to fair and balanced election coverage, has regularly been republished in the newspapers.

Still, many people appear unaware of the provisions of the Code.

The Independent Refereeing Panel believes the public to be the final arbiter of media performance, and Tuesday's session is intended to inform the public, or critical sectors of it, of the Media Code's and share understanding of its provisions and possibilities.

Media coverage is invited.

Lennox Grant Wyvolyn Gager

Independent Refereeing Panel