Politics and Media

Media, Politics and Agenda Setting.

In Trinidad and Tobago as with many other countries, politics seems to occupy a particular realm with society. Politicians and the institutions they align to have operated with the sole purpose of attaining and maintain power over the society in which they exist.

Media involvement with politics has been a long and storied relationship. Many politicians have risen on the backs of media and many have fallen from grace at the hands media. The allure of media to politics is that it has the ability to reach a large audience simultaneously without restriction of geographical or national boundary lines. Political institutions need votes which are used by society’s members to elect whom they wish to govern.

Whether it is propaganda or bias politics has been joined to media at the hip as it allows for the disseminating of political ideology to those whom they attempt to woo.

The politician uses media as an amplifier in insuring that its message reaches potential supporters of their ideology. The truth however is sometimes, or most of the times lost somewhere in all the fan fare in attempt to present the most appealing proposal for the unsuspecting voter.

There is overwhelming evidence to support the fact that after attaining office the politician soon develops amnesia, becomes out of touch with reality and  the voter who put them there. Strange enough their allegiances shift to the smallest segment of the society, who by their lack of numbers could muster enough votes to place them in office.

An example can be found in the last four years within the politics of Trinidad and Tobago. The former administration which was led by Patrick Manning was blitz by an aggressive media campaign paid for and assisted by the present regime and its agents. The content was damaging to say the least as the manning administration lost an election and now sits in opposition. For a moment in time the media was a friend to the peoples partnership, now however this government has turned away from the media who also by some indicators has return the favor.  Just today the Prime minister who in her first official media exercise wanted to be open and frank with them. She however has issued a pre action protocol letter to media house for an article which she has deemed as slanderous.

Do you believe that media and politicians can have a long term relationship?

Should media be fair and unbiased about what they report on governance?

Media and Society

Media, Gender Roles and Identity

Modern society is governed by imagery and the meanings derived. How society operates is indicative of what it learns and the media is the largest educational institution that exists in the world today. The vast quantity of information that is transmitted cannot be matched by any of the higher learning facilities combined.

The general public is saturated by so many bits of information that it barely has a chance to digest when the next mouth full is heading straight at it. The media exits within every nation and geographical location on the planet. Any combination of the internet, tv, radio or print media can be found in all the countries of the world. The share variety of the content is as diverse as the number of media themselves.

The owners of the media; government or the private sector can influence the society by the content it offers. The content presented represents the underlying point of view the owners have and want to share. Their views on gender, identity, politics, you name are disseminated via the content that is broadcast. This in turn has some effect on the society and how it functions.

Politics and governance is an example that is universal to all nations of the world. The lengths that political institutions go to attain government can be seen in their use of media. They attempt to portray a clean and favorable image of its self while casting doubt about their competitors in the minds of the public. The reality sometimes takes second place to the goal at hand; attain power and ruling over the masses, sometimes by any means necessary

The media through advertising also shapes society through its content. The use of imagery by media has the potential to inform the decision process of the members of any given society. The models used, the products shown, the relational dynamics and the list goes on all influence the viewing public in some way form or fashion.

How do you perceive the society you live in?

Are your perception based on the content of your indigenous media?

Meaning and the Media

Media defined meanings.

Meaning is developed at a very early age from within an individuals’ social environment. This has changed in modern society with the explosion in media technology. Many societies have lost their cultural essence at the hands of these elements that pervade our daily lives.

Long ago the idea was that it took a village to raise a child, now that seems so strange, to think in such a manner. The Caribbean region has been evolving away from many of its indigenous traditions and adopting the western way.

The cultural artifacts which were handed down from one generation to the next is being replaced by the digital world, where the owners are disseminating there knowledge and customs on our future generations. Local content has to fight through the jungle of western ideals, the images of glitz and glamour which seem to addictive to the young minds that continually roam this digital safari.

According to Hall, Jhally and many other scholars meaning is based on ones culture and is formed through learning and practice. Well by our youths practicing the western way our essence, the meaning of being uniquely Caribbean will slow have any relevance and eventually disappear.

One might ask how this is possible; the answer lies in what images are purported continuously. The dominant ideology seems to be that what the American and European media offer is far superior to what the rest of the has developed. Has anyone other than American or European won an Oscar in any of the major categories? The Emmys’, TVs’ equivalent also has shown a bias towards the American and European programming. Ever so often they offer up a trophy, a drop in the bucket as it were to some other media industry as an appeasement to the masses.

The use of images are clear representations of the western society and its’ system of belief. There customs and values take center stage in all their content offerings. What it means to be beautiful, how evil is represented, what roles races should play and the structure of how society should be. Content such as the Disney characters are a clear indication of this. The male are always almost of Arian race whose is strong and can overcome any obstacle. The women are also mainly of the same race and are slender, almost to the point of being sickly, are subservient, always docile and need to be rescued.  The evil persona is always dark in complexion; they are often from lower end of society’s spectrum and are always envious of the hero and his life.

So then, if our children are continually bombarded by these what then can be the end result?

Can our way of Life survive this onslaught and emerge stronger and clearly defined?

What then?

Media and Culture

Looking at the Tobago Jazz Experience

The experience of jazz, Tobago Jazz, is here once again. The much anticipated and sort after musical celebration is upon our doorsteps just waiting to pervade our souls. In an effort to highlight every aspect of the beautiful sister isle, the festival will span over one week and will showcase performances at five different communities. From Saturday 21st to Sunday 29th April, 2012, visitors to the Speyside, Signal Hill, Scarborough, Castara and the Pigeon Point Heritage Park venues are promised a musical experience that is unique to the island.

This event is one of the many initiatives implemented to increase the island’s presence across the local, regional and international tourism market. This Tobago brand will act as a stimulant to the island’s economic activity and act as a showcase to the world of everything the island has to offer.

The festival is predominantly jazz but also boasts a fusion of Trinidad and Tobago’s finest musicians as well as other regional artistes. This promises to be an offering that is much more than music, as the Tobago Jazz Experience incorporates the cultural and historical practices that promote the island of Tobago as an ideal tourist get away.

 Tobago’s way of life takes centre stage both during the day and long after the stage lights are turned off as the island presents a plethora of attractions, from the sampling of home-made bread baked in authentic dirt ovens, indigenous to the village of Castara, to simply taking a leisurely stroll off the beaten path into the Main Ridge Reserve. “Visitors can immerse themselves in cultural treats such as the goat races at the Buccoo Goat Racing Facility. Additionally, one can take in a historic lesson during a tour of Fort King George – all the while, interacting with a warm and welcoming people famous for their vintage brand of hospitality.”

The Tobago Jazz experience has featured celebrity performers like George Benson, Erykah Badu, Randy Crawford, Chaka Khan, Joe Sample and Trey Songz. The world famous band Earth Wind & Fire had a memorable performance alongside music legend Sir Elton John back in 2007.  Following that was the late great Whitney Houston alongside “the Legend” Diana Ross, En Vogue, Shakira, Rod Stewart, James Ingram, Smokey Robinson and Steel Pulse all happening in 2008.

Jazz 2012 will feature international performances by Angie Stone, Janelle Monáe, Arturo Tappin and Emeli Sandé, mixed in with a talented cast of local and regional entertainers.  This diverse blend will continue the precedence set in the past by maintaining the high standard that has been instrumental in placing Tobago Jazz on the international event calendar.

You need to be a part of this spectacular occasion and delve into all that Tobago has to offer.  Come for the fusion of music that awaits you, come for the sun, sea and sand or simply come for the infamous Tobago curry crab and lef’ han’ dumpling. Whatever your reason for stopping over in the sister isle, Tobago Jazz 2012 will prove to be a memorable one!

Has local culture been treated fairly by the media?

What can be done to highlight culture in media? 

Ethics, Law and Media

 

Ethics and legal considerations in Media

Many viewers of Crime Watch are engrossed by the ability of the host to get at the heart of issues that are aired during program. This sometimes borders on transgression of human rights and deformation of character.

The recent episode regarding the day care ran by a church in Point Fortin if not address can land the host in serious legal trouble, reflect badly on the reputation of Tv6 and hurt the image of the house of God. 

Firstly our code of ethics is a reflection of our selves within society. These should seek a win win result for all and not injure any segment of the population. With this in mind media should seek the truth first before the sensational headline, the gossip and innuendo's that occupies a lot of what is broadcasted.

Regarding the law and legal frame work for media, careful consideration should given to content and the implications the stakeholders may face from litigation. In society today, the trend of having legal redress in dealing with deformation has risen and from all indications this will continue to increase.

The recent attack on the Christian institution has shown itself to be a very good study of what should and should not be broadcast. The father of the child, has a reputation of being some what of a smart man. Individuals from his native community all attest to his modes operands. The church may have not acted openly with what has transpired, this does not imply guilt but be a way of trying to keep the focus where it ought to be the care and recovery of the child involved.

The media portrayal of the institution could land them in hot water. Their aggressive style in dealing with those who allegedly tried to cover up what happened has the making of a very lucrative suit. By focusing on the father of the child who until the incident played no major role in the child’s life could back fire. This should not be allowed at any point, for anyone in our society.

Did Crime Watch and Tv6 approach this piece of news correctly?

Do you believe that media have ethical and legal codes to follow?