Dear Editor,
The Kaieteur News has been criticized for ‘slack’ and irresponsible journalism. However, it is evident that this newspaper crosses boundaries that other daily newspapers in Guyana dare not cross and speaks to the public in a language that others would not even think of using.
In other words, I believe the Kaieteur News has successfully been able to communicate with the Guyanese people, especially those around the world who read the publication.
Ask any newspaper vendor (and I have witnessed this), the first paper which goes off the news-stand is the Kaieteur News. Of course, I do not agree with the extremely graphic pictures that the newspaper carries often on its front page, but as I said, this newspaper knows how to talk to the masses, even if it means doing so through images.
They have often been whipped for publishing salacious headlines and news reports. Guyanese would remember the infamous report of a telephone call between the late Rondell ‘Fineman’ Rawlins and Kaieteur News.
Of course, there is something very unique about every daily newspaper in Guyana: the Chronicle carries pro-government reporting and views. They also carry photographs on the front page, very often of ‘things going extremely well in Guyana.’
The Stabroek News also has its unique style: they are seen as the ‘reputable’ newspaper in Guyana, verifying facts before publishing stories, a fair and balanced newspaper, and ethical reporting. They are admired by the Guyanese reading public and that is why I buy the Stabroek News.
The Guyana Times pretty much employs the same mechanisms the Chronicle and hence I’ve stopped reading this publication, although I commended the initiative for a bigger, better and all-colour newspaper at its launch. I take back my words. I really do.
All in all, I believe Guyanese have grown to understand this peculiar newspaper. They have grown to love it in their own way. Call it what you want, maybe it’s a love-hate relationship they have with Kaieteur News.
The Kaieteur News experimented fully with the readership of Guyanese before it came on the scene. They published the wickedly entertaining Midweek Flame back in the late ’90s. Kaieteur News published only a Friday edition also.
It was later on that they axed the Wednesday Flame newspaper and went daily with the Kaieteur News. It was the best decision they made. Today, Guyanese can’t get enough of them. ‘Please for a Kaieteur News, if all ain’t sell out!’
Yours faithfully,
Leon Jameson Suseran
