Dear Editor,
With respect to your editorial `The President and fairness in the press’ (Nov 7) and recent letter comments about government conditioning its paid advertisements to Stabroek News and other media houses to ‘favourable’ coverage (reporting and editorializing), such behaviour is unethical and a violation of the basic norm of professional journalism. Advertisers cannot influence the editorial content of a media house. To do so would compromise the integrity of the media.
Recent comments from government spokespersons seem to suggest that the government will only give ads if they get ‘fair’ coverage. “Fair’ is not defined but would seem to suggest pro-government coverage. This would turn a media house into a government propagandistic organ. It is unbecoming of a democratic government to develop such expectation and or to put conditions on its ads on coverage. Media houses must have a free hand in their editorial practices – what they think or feel is newsworthy. Government or advertisers can’t determine what is newsworthy. And the media must be free to critique government and its officers.
The government gives ads and expects positive coverage or more than average amount of coverage. That may become propaganda. The media must avoid political propaganda of parties or any government or accept any terms that tie advertisement revenues with positive coverage. Otherwise, they will compromise professionalism and ethics in journalism.
I have been in the media for some forty-five years. I managed and edited small newspapers at one time or another in the US. Never did anyone condition ads with positive coverage of their activities. Patrons expected coverage of their events or news releases since they helped to cover the costs of the paper. But when their activities did not make the news (not newsworthy), they did not cancel or withdrew ads. They were understanding. In most cases, the advertisers did not even care if they received coverage. No company wants negative or bad press. But if a company deserves to be exposed because of terrible practice, so be it. A government is like a business. If it violates good business practices, it must be exposed and condemned. SN, and other independent media, have done an exceptional job in holding the government accountable. They ought to be applauded, not punished. Holding the government accountable should not lead to withdrawal of ads.
Placing an ad and expecting positive news coverage of events is akin to paying for news coverage of the event. The company or patron or ad sponsor may as well take out an ad about the event or activity. The advertiser’s expectation would be better achieved that way.
I applaud SN for its professionalism and for putting up this strong fight against the government on freedom of the press and state advertisements. Media houses must be fair and balanced in their coverage of events; they must never compromise professionalism and ethical responsibility. A content analysis of SN news or commentary would reveal that the paper is more than fair in providing government with fair coverage. The paper has been critical of all the parties and give coverage to all of them though not equally. The two major parties get the lion’s share of the coverage. And the governments got more coverage than the opposition. Thus, there is no justification for government’s complaint against SN and for withdrawal of ads which is a violation of the free press treaty signed by the government.
It is noted that while government is making a claim for ‘fair’ coverage of its activities and releases, the state media has not been balanced or fair in its coverage of political events of other parties or of NGOs or religious organizations. The state media should not give all of its space to the government. And the opposition affiliated or independent media should not give all of their space to the opposition; the state should get a fair amount of coverage. All media should give a fair amount of coverage to the ruling party and to the programmes and activities of all other political parties, NGOs, and other organizations. I applaud SN for not compromising professionalism and fair, balanced political coverage of other parties in the wake of government’s financial pressure.
Yours faithfully,
Dr. Vishnu Bisram
