Dear Editor,
As someone in the field of communication, I am well aware of the impact messages can have on viewers, listeners and readers. Therefore, I would like to appeal to the media to be extremely careful with the messages which are being disseminated at this very sensitive period in our nation’s history. This is a serious and a very traumatic period for many Guyanese. It is a highly sensitive time, so let’s be responsible – responsible to each other, to the institutions which we represent, to the people whom leaders were elected to represent, and to all of Guyana.
On Monday July 23, I watched a movie, Roots on NCN Channel 11. It is my view that movies like Roots, Hotel Rwanda, Mandela and Sarafina should not be shown by our media at this time. They transmit very strong messages.
I must make it clear that I am not referring to messages transmitted in the news and other current affairs programmes. News has to be what it is – ‘news.’ I am specifically pointing to the choice of general programmes.
There is a principle in communication that states, if you stay on the message long enough, the message gains power and takes on a life of its own. Let’s be more thoughtful about what messages we want to stay on at this time.
We need more messages that promote peace and unity at this time. May wisdom prevail.
Yours faithfully,
Audreyanna Thomas
