It was journalists, through the Caribbean Association of Media Workers, who requested help from the Government for training for journalists, and not the other way around, says Minister of Communications Gerald Hadeed. Hadeed was responding to concerns among some members of the media over a release he sent yesterday that said his ministry would be working with the T&T Publishers and Broadcasters’ Association (TTPBA) on media training.
The release said Hadeed, at a meeting with the TTBPA executive yesterday, agreed to support training proposed by the Caribbean Association of Media Workers. The training is designed to help media workers upgrade their skills. The release said Hadeed raised the issue of balance in reporting, a concern the TTPBA supported. It was from this mutual interest in improving the standard of journalism that the minister and TTPBA agreed to work together on providing more opportunities for training for journalists, the release said.
Contacted for a comment yesterday, Hadeed said the TTPBA had requested his assistance and he acceded. “It was their suggestion. I did not ask for journalists to be trained.” Hadeed said quite frankly he believed media houses should send journalists for training in investigative journalism. For those interested, the Government will have no problem in assisting with scholarships, he said.
Among other issues raised by the TTPBA at the meeting were transition to a digital broadcast standard, the Broadcast Code, the role of the media and election advertising. According to the release, TTPBA president Darren Lee Sing said the association was extremely pleased with the minister’s response and was looking forward to more dialogue with him.
The announcement on the impending collaboration between the Government and the media came three days after Independent senator Anthony Vieira drew the ire of the TTPBA and the Media Association of T&T when he suggested that journalists should disclose their political persuasion. He made the call during debate on a motion on regulating political campaign financing, saying this was important because public should know if a media house is hijacked by special interests or people with deep pockets.
Lee Sing said the media operated independently and must continue to operate in this manner, while MATT president Curtis Williams said the media operated freely and independently and Viera’s position was untenable.