Karamba, succint points. Rest assured that we got your back; although I know
that you can handle Tombong adequately. Watch this space. We will respond to
any misinformation Tombong wants to peddle here. Little changed here after
he absconded.
KB


>From: [log in to unmask]
>Reply-To: The Gambia and related-issues mailing list
><[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Let Us Debate The Issues(GRTS)
>Date: Thu, 15 Feb 2001 08:04:37 EST
>
>I'd like to suggest we take Tombong up on his proposal. If list members
>agree, GRTS sounds like a great place for us to start both for the crucial
>role that it plays in reaching the biggest chunk of the population and the
>fact that Mr Saidy runs it. As I have said before GRTS is playing a very
>destructive role in the way it purports to inform the public. The whole
>enterprise is just so blatantly unprofessional that they can't be called a
>legitimate information outlet. The reporters come across as propaganda
>commissars who make no effort to even appear balanced in the way they
>present
>stories. I have never heard a GRTS story on any issue in which the simple
>journalistic ethos of presenting both sides of an issue is observed. The
>writing and presentation of even their own skewed broadcasts are so poor
>that
>one can only conclude that GRTS either has no internal standards and
>guidelines that can remotely be called professional. Listening to these
>reporters is almost akin to having to contend with kindergarten kids
>struggling with nursery rhymes. They are flat and amateurish. The overall
>programing especially at the TV reflects a galling case of misplaced
>priorities. I just don't understand why Mr Saidy flies around the world
>buying syndicated shows of soap operas with the very scant resources he has
>instead of investing in the training and professionalisation of the small
>pool he has at the department to increase their talent to produce better
>programming that actually reflect our own realities. With the advent of TV
>,
>Gambians today have no better understanding of their country's economy,
>health, environment or any other public policy isuue. If for example the
>director of social security administration decides to donate D50,000 of the
>tax payers money to Yahya Jammehs foundation as it was dutifully reported
>by
>GRTS, it is only sensible for the same TV cameras to go to politicians who
>I
>am certain vehemently oppose shifting public funds to a dubious private
>foundation and the people are entitled to hearing that opinion in that very
>same piece. It simply is the right thing to do. The fairness doctrine is
>what
>underlies the practice of journalism everywhere in the world. If you run
>GRTS
>by hounding and threatening the professionals and living the reporting to
>incompetent sychophants, you would just be wasting resources in a vane
>attempt to  run what you believe to be an effective propaganda machine. The
>public can easily see through all the stuff you try to peddle in a not so
>elaborate bid to prop up a regime that is greatly reviled by most of the
>people. I would implore you to  at last make an effort to do the right
>thing.
>Try to be professional and cover the news as it is. Organise forums and
>invite a cross section of the population to discuss public policy. Stop
>trying to ignore the opposition who collectively represent the overwhelming
>majority of the people. Bring them into the studio, and cover them on the
>road to enable the Gambian people to hear them out.Ask them all the tough
>questions you can muster and take them to task but by God let the people
>hear
>and see them. If Yahya or Yankuba are confident of their record in this
>country, it is your job to create an enabling environment where they and
>their critics can debate those same issues. You have never done what is
>called investigative journalism. There is certainly is plenty to
>investigate.
>You have never reached out to the excellent private print reporters and
>bring
>them in to discuss stories they have broken which you choose to ignore.
>Bring
>Dyedah Hydara, Demba Jawo and all the rest and do a round table to review
>the
>news  and inform the people. All of this would just serve to enhance GRTS.
>But if you continue to cower down and do the gov't's bidding and willingly
>act as eager conduits for lies and misinformation, the greater harm is done
>to you and the people in your department. Budding reporters who could
>otherwise have been molded into real professionals would find themselves so
>compromised that they may not be able fit in a reformed GRTS once a new
>gov't
>takes over. Make a break from the past and set an example with the upcoming
>by-elections.Cover the races extensively and be scrucupously fair in the
>allocation of airtime. Help all the parties to produce their campaign ads
>in
>your broadcast facilities. Call in your reporters and have them be
>professional and improve the writing by having editors look and vet text .
>Since you lived in the US try to come as close to being PBS as you can. If
>the gov't is chagrined by your attempts to do the right thing and fires
>you,
>it would been the least you can do for a people you have contributed in
>inflicting great harm.
>Karamba
>
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