Dear Editor,
I am deeply concerned about the views being expressed in the written media outlets about the denial of ads to Stabroek News. The use of government advertising to reward or punish particular media outlets must be avoided at all costs. Such a policy does the country no good. The free exchange of ideas must be encouraged and government should help with institutionalizing press freedom, given the repression of press freedom during the era of the PNC dictatorship.
Critiques and objective criticisms of government policy are good for the country. Criticism helps the government to “self-reflect” and to revise policy to maximize benefits for the country. Thus the government should increase rather than decrease state ads especially if it can afford the ads.
I refuse to believe that the PPP/C government is pursuing a secret agenda to punish Stabroek News or any other media. Withholding state ads from particular media belong to a bygone era. The PPP government will recall that the party suffered from such ad discrimination policy when it was in the opposition. The PPP’s organ, the Mirror, suffered from lack of government advertising even when it was more popular to read than the government’s rag sheet during the dictatorship.
One must not forget the role SN played in the restoration of democracy (1986 – 1992). No other media provided us an avenue to critique the dictatorship. Thus, I don’t think the PPP/C government will want to punish any media for critiquing its policy or for a reporter being “too harsh” on the government. I certainly have been very critical of the government over the years and I won’t like it to take punitive measures against me for my fearless views.
I should note that the policy to withdraw ads from SN is perceived by many people I spoke with in NYC as a punitive measure against SN. The government must, therefore, reconsider its position not to give ads to SN. The media is important because it informs, educates, and entertains people. It also fosters a common culture and propagates development.
There should not be any arbitrary policy in which a government reward media outlets that support them and turn a cold-shoulder against the rest. There is no place for the practice of discriminatory placement of advertising in the free press. Such a policy foments arbitrary decisions, prevents transparency and ultimately leads to corruption. Therefore, I urge the government to reconsider its policy to withdraw ads from SN and any other media outlet. Ads should be distributed with fairness to the major media, that would benefit the government’s overall objectivity.
Yours faithfully,
Vishnu Bisram
