#BTSpeakingOut – Timely advice for Mr Wickham

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by this author are their own and do not represent the official position of the Barbados Today Inc.

by Michael Ray

“Consistency is what transforms average into excellence” – Random Vibez Quotation.

A few hallmarks of good journalism are objectivity, facts, fairness, balance and consistency.

However, when talk-show hosts throw away the last of these ingredients, then quality and standards are likely to take a nose-dive to the bottom of the ocean and resurface like flotsam and jetsam.

A few weeks ago, on a radio talk-show, one of the more popular and provocative moderators chastised a caller for not pronouncing the foreign name of a young articulate school boy seemingly versed in matters of politics, education and current affairs.

The moderator sternly warned the caller that he (moderator) would not be entertaining any persons who mispronounce the Indian surname of the young boy, in any attempt to deride or ridicule.

Only a few days ago, on Wednesday 30th June 2021,  the same moderator with glaring inconsistency allowed a caller to heap disdainful ridicule and derision on members of a political party, calling them “demo-rats” .

The caller repeated the word “demo-rats” at least three times without being rebuked or reprimanded.

The same moderator who objected to the mispronunciation of an Indian surname allowed a Barbadian caller to bastardise and adulterate the name by which members of a noted political party  are called.

There was no reasonable or worthwhile reason  for persons normally described as “democrats” to be called “demo-rats”.

Even if the moderator lost sight of objectivity, facts, fairness and balance, the opportunity was available for him to be consistent and in-line with
the ruling he made weeks earlier.

May I remind Mr. Peter Wickham of some good and worthy advice: “Consistency always leads to excellence, Whatever you do in life, always be consistent”.