There is no investigation into the conduct of any reporter at the Express newspaper, according to the paper's editor-in-chief Omatie Lyder.She was responding to a statement attributed to the president of the Media Association of T&T (Matt) Curtis Williams, who on Wednesday said the newspaper had launched an investigation into allegations surrounding one of its investigative reporters.
A statement issued by the association on Wednesday condemned an Internet smear campaign against a reporter, but noted "Matt was also aware of other matters relating to the issue which is being looked into."However, in a phone interview yesterday, when asked if an investigation (as to who placed the video, and allegations made in the video) had been launched into the YouTube video, Lyder said the company's lawyers were addressing the matter.
Contacted yesterday via phone, Williams said he had nothing further to say on the matter. Asked specifically what the other issues were that were being looked at in relation to the matter, Williams said he was not at liberty to speak on those matters and he was not in a position to discuss it further.On Sunday, Attorney General Anand Ramlogan said four female Express journalists were "a team of undercover PNM media agents."
His cabinet colleague, Leader of Government Business Dr Roodal Moonilal, according to an Express report, was quoted as saying journalists should toughen up. He was quoted as saying, "Yes, the media has a role, a very critical role, and the media would present exposes, and so on, on persons in public like myself and others who have allowed themselves to be investigated and scrutinised in public life.
"But it is a tough job and there are times when reporters themselves find themselves under the microscope, and there also needs to be a toughness not only by the public figures, but by all those who participate in public life," he said.Ramlogan when contacted via phone on the matter yesterday said he had no comment.