January 1 - Today, we reflect on a year that presented
to the media some of the sternest challenges of the modern era. It was a period
during which, internationally, the forces against press freedom gained
oppressive and, occasionally murderous ground.
At the regional level, though we escaped
the worst effects of growing violence and grievous attack, a combination of
internal and exogenous factors led to serious challenges to the flourishing of
independent, professional journalism and media practice generally.
In response, we have seemingly failed to
convince all stakeholders that the best route to development through
information and enlightened action is the viability of an industry founded on a
commitment to fair, balanced and professional journalistic performance.
This, to me, represents the most critical
challenge to the formal media industry, and associated structures for
professional practice based on longstanding principles and instruction. The
ensuing conundrum offers up a variety of emerging options that have
contributed, more than anything else, to the discussion on post-truth output
and the dominance of opinion and propaganda over fact.
It remains our belief that journalism
presents to our societies the best available opportunity to capture the truth
of our Caribbean existence and that by strengthening the media’s institutional
structures and enhancing its stock of professional resources, the region will
be better equipped to engage the critical development questions.
This in no way devalues the impact of other,
informal sources of information flows, but represents the consolidation of an
indispensable pillar of civil society. There is no reason why these two streams
cannot reside alongside each other and to intersect, whatever their essential
differences in purpose, structure and eventual aspiration.
Media owners and managers need at this time
to create better conditions for the continued growth of professionalism. Representative
media and media worker organisations also need to pursue more enlightened paths
to development. There is, as well, the imperative of personal, professional
development.
Issues related to the advent of cyber-crime
legislation and other related laws will continue to engage our close attention
and a network of hemispheric and international support has already been
activated to provide critical legal and other assistance. There also continue
to be concerns related to recent broadcasting legislation.
In 2016, the ACM attempted to play its part
through efforts involving our national affiliates and collaborators and our
international partners. This occurred at the level of the Global Forum for
Media Development (GFMD), a seat on whose Steering Committee we currently
occupy, and through the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) on
whose Councils we sit both at the international and wider regional levels. We
were also elected to serve on the inaugural executive board of the recently
established African, Caribbean and Pacific Press Clubs Federation (ACP-PCF).
We have also collaborated with the United
Nations system, through the Caribbean Broadcasting Union and UNICEF and with
UNESCO to execute two important projects to first develop and launch a guide to
coverage of Children and their issues in the Caribbean and also to continue our
work on building a regional framework for Media Self-Regulation.
Among our ongoing concerns are the
shortcomings of national representative organisations in the 10 countries
represented by the ACM, in addition to our national Focal Points. For 2017, our
priority list must pay greater attention to the building of a more supportive
institutional infrastructure, both as a regional organisation and as individual
national associations, to achieve greater viability on the ground.
(Excerpt from my statement as President of the Association of Caribbean MediaWorkers)
