The Guyana Elections Com-mission (GECOM) Media Monitoring Unit has found “pervasive” breaches of the principles of the media code for the upcoming polls, saying that some media houses are indulging in “opinionated news-reporting” that are not in line with basic journalistic standards.
“This unprofessional practice was observed being taken to new (ridiculous) levels, especially in the nightly television newscasts, and also by some sections of the print media,” the Unit said in its report for the period August 29, 2011 to September 30, 2011, which was released yesterday. “The practice of conflating opinion with news conflicts not only with the [media code], but also with rudimentary journalism standards; and serves to deny citizens the right to accurate,