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Letters to the Editor
Hypocrisy of mainstream media
Wednesday, February 08, 2012
Dear Editor,
I see where a number of the regular "independent" commentators/political analysts are now occupying major positions in the ruling PNP administration following the election last year. Some of the more obvious ones are: Lambert Brown, a senator and Lloyd B Smith, an MP and deputy speaker of the House. I also observed how involved other commentators were in varying parts of the PNP campaign, and are now or are becoming integral members of the government.
I remember last year the president of G2K, Delano Seiveright, complained about bias from media commentators or so-called "independent analysts" who served as fixtures on many radio, TV and print news stories and programmes over the last few years. His argument was that media houses should indicate at the beginning of each programme or article, areas of the commentator's professional or relevant personal information so that the consumer would be fully aware of his or her partisan leanings, if any. His position was reasonable, especially in view of the daily clobbering the JLP got from almost every media angle.
Mr Seiveright and G2K were heavily castigated, and media leaders turned a blind eye to the blatant hypocrisy unfolding day after day on radio, TV and in the press. I sat and watched with dismay as G2K and JLP spokespersons were put on panels with an official PNP spokesperson and the revered civil society/"independent" political analyst who was typically a PNP sympathiser. To top it all off, the JLP/G2K spokespersons were further hemmed in by a host who was not so balanced after all. Unbelievable!
G2K and Mr Seiveright are owed an apology.
Carolyn Stewart
Kingston 6
 
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2/9/2012
Here is a non-exhaustive list of persons with strong connection to the PNP that write for Observer on a regular basis: Claire Forrester, Chris Burns, Barbara Gloudon, Claude Robinson, and Michael Burke. The infiltration of the Gleaner by PNP functionaries is even more frigttening. Yet these persons would want us to think they are 'independent' commentators. Moderator i hope you will publish my list.
2/8/2012
Lorenzo Bronx, you are missing the point in the letter. Stop the politics and comment according to what is in the letter.
2/8/2012
Miss Stewart do you have any information of member of the JLP who apply to any of the media house and was deny ? if you don't, why don,t you apply for the job to work at a media house and defend your JLP .
2/8/2012
I would go further Carolyn. This was a deliberate ploy by some media leaders. They knew what was happening and did not want to stop it. THe JLP could not play ball in circumstances like this. Jamaica will pay dearly for this election result.
2/8/2012
... they are properly named "Propagandists" .... the ones who promote "Propaganda" .... which has normally been assembled for them by those who Produce the "Talking Points" behind the scenes .... YET the voters fall for it over and over again both here and abroad ..... what does that say about the voters? or is it about the even handedness of the media? ...... for a hundred years or more the Fabian plot has been unfolding ....
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