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#BTColumn – The media and politics

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by Dr Derek Alleyne

“The fourth estate is definitely a power, but, to misuse that power is criminal.” — Mahatma Gandhi

In discussions among some political activists, it was agreed that Barbados had changed significantly over the last fifty years, and not necessarily for the benefit of the majority of Barbadians.

The absence of critical analysis, an apparent coalescence of non-government agencies and other social actors on the need to be silent, the stalling of the economy, socio-political relations damaged, and the Barbadian identity up for sale all found discussion time. In the growing atmosphere of silence, the role of the media in Barbados was raised as a concern and became the subject of some discussion.

It was generally agreed that the quality of journalism was up for scrutiny and that there was a growing tendency to provide reports of activities rather than analyse them.  The COVID pandemic was one such example.

Derived from the Latin medium, the media as referenced by Paul and Rai in the Role of the Media is the traditional mass communication system and content generators as well as other technologies for mediated human speech.

Explaining that there is a current common parlance that defines it as a process or instrument designed to reach a large number of consumers as audience, readers, or viewers, while a modern usage is the spread of propaganda, utilised by right wing political parties to control public opinion.

The media communicate ideas and have great impact on the attitudes and problems of the people. The mass media create an impact by playing a role as change agent, reflector, reinforcing policies, law and protecting rights.

It was a statement of significance when the United Nations Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC) noted in 2001 that “the social infrastructure and environment of Barbados were important factors in understanding the social development of Barbados in the post-independence period.”

  In particular the Commission concluded that among other factors, “the extensive and independent nature of the media had been critical in public education, sensitisation and mobilization.” Could the same be said now?

Acknowledging the role NGOs and interest groups in their advocacy and monitoring role in social development, the report saw the political stability of Barbados and the seamless transfer of political power as critical factors that ensured that scarce national resources were not used to contain political unrest.

The ultimate benefit was a level of social consensus among and popular participation of key members of civil society that was pivotal to creating an enabling environment for social and economic development – an environment that has given rise to the relatively high standard of living enjoyed by the mass of Barbadians today.

This was at the start of the 21st century but as Barbados enters the second decade there is growing evidence that the horizon is wrought with danger. The source of the danger is not an inept government concerned only with staying in office.

It is not the increasing level of crime and violence. It definitely is not the growing national debt and struggling economy, for these are not new phenomena.

Climate change and denudation of the environment are concerns but not the sources of the eminent danger. The source of the danger is, believe it or not, the “new media”.

Paul and Rai tell us that “contemporarily, media have acquired tremendous power that influences the socio, cultural, religious, political, and economic fabric of everyday life. Media function as custodians of the constitution of a nation.

It has the duty to inform, entertain, and educate the people on matters related to their lives”. By constructing a reality, they make people believe what they report.

In Barbados the media highlight irrelevant events as important and increasingly see their role as tools of the government, misleading people as they deviate from important issues and concerns.

The media now frame images of reality to form public opinion and concentrate on the bottom line. The sale of media tools like newspapers and magazines has given way to advertising dollars to the point that the misuse of the media and their technology has boosted the emergence of a new class of entrepreneurs – some as stealthy as terrorists.

Dr Derek Alleyne is a trade unionist and social commentator.

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