Desmond AllenI LIKE journalism as a profession. I guess you have to like your profession to stay in it for 27 years! But last week, for one of the very few times in my life, I felt completely ashamed to be a journalist. That was when a United States television newscaster said missing US travel writer, Claudia Hirschhock was drugged and taken into the "underground slave trade which is active in Jamaica".
And even though they were forced to retract the story, I am still hiding my face from the critics of journalism who would have been saying 'here we go again'. The report sobered me up somewhat, after my one-week indulgence in a little Lune de miel. It was a weird feeling. I couldn't help thinking 'this is how painful it feels when we go wrong in doing our job as journalists'.
That claim that Jamaica had an active underground slave trade was hard to deal with. But it is conceivable that Jamaica could have an active underground slave trade, even if all of us here had been hearing of it for the very first time. Nuh true? But if this were the case, that we really had such a thing here, and it took the Americans to discover it, could they not have just given some kind of evidence? That's what good journalism is about.
If we can salvage anything from that sordid affair, colleagues, let us endeavour not to get caught in such a nonsensical sensationalist trap. Let us strive to be as accurate as possible, putting effort into research and at the very least, ensure that we present the evidence to back the claims made in our stories.
Yellow journalism
And speaking of 'yellow journalism', don't you feel sorry for The Observer at times? Last weekend, they gave us a TV Guide and Arts section on yellow newsprint! Clearly, no one at the paper knows anything about the stigma attached to printing newspapers with yellow ink or on yellow paper. The Hearst newspapers in the US abandoned the practice after the term 'yellow journalism' (gutter journalism) became attached to them for printing a section in yellow ink.
If you are running a newspaper, it helps to know a little about newspaper history, don't you think?
Merci, Stephen
You have probably guessed by now that I am a regular reader of Stephen Vasciannie's column in The Gleaner. He writes well. If you are looking for good writing examples, his columns are a model. But why am I talking about Stephen? Well, he has given me another reason. His subtlety becomes him. Note how he corrects my error in saying miel de lune, instead of Lune de miel, in my last column carried by the Sunday Herald.
For the error, I also must apologise to my French readers and especially to the Alliance Francaise of Jamaica, and even more especially to the Comite d'Honneur assembled by Ambassador Albert Salon, and of which I am privileged to be a member.
Spike readers' comments
Dear Desmond, I was surprised to find something to spike in the editorial of the Weekend Observer of Friday 11 August. Describing the Independence Gala, the writer says "the process was evocative and enervating". Given the context, 'enervate' is not at all the right word, meaning as it does "weaken, deprive of strength; cause to feel drained of energy". Best regards.
Leeta Hearne
shearne@uwimona.edumona.jm.
Dear Spike, in the editorial of the Weekend Observer dated August 11, reference is made to the Gala Independence show at Jamaica House on Monday night. The general tone of the article is positive. However, the following sentence stood out: "The process was evocative and enervating". I wish to point out that the word "enervate" means to deprive of vigour and vitality". I doubt that this was what the writer meant. Perhaps the more apt word would have been "energizing". What do you think? Regards.
Denise Byfield-Dixon
denisebyfield@hotmail.com.
Seen and Heard
Can't they correct that Homelectrix ad saying "...where you pay no GCT on everything". It should be "where you pay no GCT on anything". Some of you advertising script writers seem to think you have no responsibility to write English. Well, I have news for you. You do!
"I played when I was injured, even though I may not shouldn't have been playing" The Weekend Star story 'Smitten Raymond lodges appeal', August 11, page 43. Clearly, no proof-reader was on duty.
Here's another reason why I say that: 'Jamaica Football Fedewration general-secretary, Horace Reid, said he spoke to Boyd yesterday evening, who said he was fine enough to play.' Same Weekend Star, story "Bad timing Boyd!" back page.
Same thing at the Sunday Observer, August 11, page 3, story "Husband on murder rap" "A man is being bars following the fatal stabbing of his wife, Marie Williams-Cockburn..." They meant a man is behind bars, but the proof-reader went home before reading that story!
Someone at the SportsGlobe doesn't know the meaning of the word 'smarting'. Hear this from the story "Boyz hunt another scalp!", Page 3 August 14-19: "The Boyz, smarting from two back-to-back victories..." In such a case, you would be smiling, not smarting from back-to-back victories!
Send spikeables to :
spike@jol.com.jm;
desal@cwjamaica.com
or fax to 926-0295.
Desmond Allen is in his 27th year as a journalist.
