Telecoms Authority boss chastises media

 

 

He argued that the decline made many citizens insensitive to the potential negative effects of the media, particularly on the impressionable minds of children and young people. He added: “Though I am opposed to Government censorship, I believe in freedom of speech and expression and that freedom of the press is an important component of our democracy, which is essential to holding leaders accountable. “The media has the power to influence the national standards in society and this power must be discharged honestly and with a sense of responsibility.” Wilson argued that while the positive impact of the media was not limited to creating meaningful discussion, educating the masses, bridging cultures, raising important issues, revealing secrets and encouraging peace, there were also many negative impacts. “Contemporary media houses have succeeded in generating negative stereotypes, distorting the truth, establishing unrealistic and unhealthy expectations, fostering ignorance, encouraging violence and possibly dismantling social progress,” he said. Wilson said great consideration needed to be given to topics, such as rape, child abuse, child sexuality and personal tragedy, before inclusion in a media product.

 

 

“These may have a relevant place, depending on the context and the desired result to be achieved. When the decision is made for its inclusion, it is responsible to do so with the respect for individual rights for privacy,” he said. Wilson seemed saddened by what he termed the media’s lack of social responsibility to follow moral, legal and social principles by which it must operate. He said: “In Trinidad and Tobago, these principles are increasingly being breached, particularly on the airwaves and in television broadcasting, with a spate of character-assassination programmes, the use of inappropriate language, sexually-explicit language and broadcasting of personal tragedy, with a total disregard for privacy.”  “Why are media standards being compromised in T&T?” the former government minister asked. He suggested it was because proper media standards and journalists were lacking, or media houses were driven by the bottom line (profits), that had allowed their moral values to be compromised. “Maybe it is not recognised that freedom of the press imposes responsibility,” Wilson added.