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Politicians and the press
published: Saturday | July 21, 2007
Cliff Hughes, the entrepreneurial journalist, who is a principal in Nationwide News Network, has reported receiving death threats, ostensibly over his reporting which officials and supporters of the People’s National Party (PNP) deem to be critical of and biased against that organisation.
Hughes says that the threats became more specific after statements, apparently about himself and Nationwide, at a PNP campaign rally by the party’s general secretary and Information minister, Donald Buchanan.
We make two points on this score. The first and the easiest relates to Mr. Buchanan.
A year and a half ago when Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller – having won the leadership of her party and the Government – named Buchanan to her Cabinet and gave him the Information portfolio, this newspaper advised Simpson Miller of her mistake. We suggested that she rethink the decision.
The fact is that Buchanan is close to that age when people retire from their jobs. Indeed, Mr. Buchanan is not seeking re-election to Parliament.
But while Buchanan may have the numerical years and is, indeed, heading into old age, we have never been quite able to perceive him as adult. His is a style that suggests the making of a geriatric adolescent, moving from intemperate juvenile.
These perceptions of Buchanan would only have been reinforced by some of his recent inflammatory statements on the campaign trail – calling people ‘devil’ even after an opponent had been criticised for referring to the PM as Jezebel and damning people as liars over an alleged shooting incident. We are, therefore, not surprised at anything Buchanan might say and how he says it. And Simpson Miller might find, as the saying goes, that having sowed the wind, she and her party will reap the Donald Buchanan whirlwind.
The more important point, however, is that any threat of physical harm to Cliff Hughes is to be roundly condemned and the police should, with urgency, seek to determine from whom they came and deal with them in accordance with the law. We have in these columns argued previously that journalists cannot assume themselves to be above criticism, or be exempted from probes into how they do their jobs and/or the quality of their efforts. It is another thing when criticism transcends into physical violence or threats thereof, which really is another way of attempting to undermine that fundamental tenet of democracy-free expression.
We will be reminded that freedom of expression is not only for the journalist in the role of watchdog of governance. It is a right to be enjoyed also by Buchanan and others. Which is true. But that freedom also comes with responsibility, which for politicians at public rallies includes the tone in which they deliver their message lest they incite violence. We repeat the oft-repeated example: it is not the right of an individual to shout “fire” in a crowded building when there is no fire. That is irresponsibility.
There is also the claim that the PNP withdrew or failed to advertise with Hughes’ station. If this is not about the use of Government funds as a weapon against the press, then that is primarily the PNP’s business. They may claim the right to be as foolish as they want to be and not to act in their own best interest.
The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner. To respond to a Gleaner editorial, email us: editor@gleanerjm.com or fax: 922-6223.
Responses should be no longer than 400 words. Not all responses will be published.
published: Saturday | July 21, 2007
Cliff Hughes, the entrepreneurial journalist, who is a principal in Nationwide News Network, has reported receiving death threats, ostensibly over his reporting which officials and supporters of the People’s National Party (PNP) deem to be critical of and biased against that organisation.
Hughes says that the threats became more specific after statements, apparently about himself and Nationwide, at a PNP campaign rally by the party’s general secretary and Information minister, Donald Buchanan.
We make two points on this score. The first and the easiest relates to Mr. Buchanan.
A year and a half ago when Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller – having won the leadership of her party and the Government – named Buchanan to her Cabinet and gave him the Information portfolio, this newspaper advised Simpson Miller of her mistake. We suggested that she rethink the decision.
The fact is that Buchanan is close to that age when people retire from their jobs. Indeed, Mr. Buchanan is not seeking re-election to Parliament.
But while Buchanan may have the numerical years and is, indeed, heading into old age, we have never been quite able to perceive him as adult. His is a style that suggests the making of a geriatric adolescent, moving from intemperate juvenile.
These perceptions of Buchanan would only have been reinforced by some of his recent inflammatory statements on the campaign trail – calling people ‘devil’ even after an opponent had been criticised for referring to the PM as Jezebel and damning people as liars over an alleged shooting incident. We are, therefore, not surprised at anything Buchanan might say and how he says it. And Simpson Miller might find, as the saying goes, that having sowed the wind, she and her party will reap the Donald Buchanan whirlwind.
The more important point, however, is that any threat of physical harm to Cliff Hughes is to be roundly condemned and the police should, with urgency, seek to determine from whom they came and deal with them in accordance with the law. We have in these columns argued previously that journalists cannot assume themselves to be above criticism, or be exempted from probes into how they do their jobs and/or the quality of their efforts. It is another thing when criticism transcends into physical violence or threats thereof, which really is another way of attempting to undermine that fundamental tenet of democracy-free expression.
We will be reminded that freedom of expression is not only for the journalist in the role of watchdog of governance. It is a right to be enjoyed also by Buchanan and others. Which is true. But that freedom also comes with responsibility, which for politicians at public rallies includes the tone in which they deliver their message lest they incite violence. We repeat the oft-repeated example: it is not the right of an individual to shout “fire” in a crowded building when there is no fire. That is irresponsibility.
There is also the claim that the PNP withdrew or failed to advertise with Hughes’ station. If this is not about the use of Government funds as a weapon against the press, then that is primarily the PNP’s business. They may claim the right to be as foolish as they want to be and not to act in their own best interest.
The opinions on this page, except for the above, do not necessarily reflect the views of The Gleaner. To respond to a Gleaner editorial, email us: editor@gleanerjm.com or fax: 922-6223.
Responses should be no longer than 400 words. Not all responses will be published.