Media in the cross hairs?

Colin Steer, Editor - Sunday Gleaner

To say that Everald Warmington is boorish, rude and crude is to say birds fly, fish swim and politicians, with few exceptions, have a passing acquaintance with the truth. It's overstating the obvious. He has long conducted himself in a crass manner and the Jamaica Labour Party's (JLP) leadership has been too cowardly to deal with him in an appropriate manner. That having been said, I think my media colleagues need to get over themselves in the current collective navel-gazing.

For to consider his telling a television reporter during a live interview to "go to hell" as intimidation, warranting reporting him to and calling for the intervention of the International Federation of Journalists, is beyond ridiculous. Have we nothing better to do with our time? Are reporters going to scurry crying foul every time a politician says "boo"?

I suppose the rejoinder will be that it all has to do with according respect to the journalist doing his/her job 'in the public interest'. Perhaps. But Warmington's big sin is that he publicly said what he did. Truth be told, politicians over many years, including at least one prime minister, have been known to call newsrooms or journalists at their homes to hurl invective wrapped in choice Jamaican fabric. They usually react that way either when they are under pressure or believe they have been misrepresented in media reports. Some journalists see this as part of the territory, but will insist on getting the information they want, without allowing themselves to be taken off track.

Rudeness not intimidation

Lest my comments be misconstrued by the usual suspects who read but don't comprehend, let me make my position clear: Warmington should be strongly chided for his behaviour. Indeed, it would be a good thing if the JLP were to find a decent replacement to represent the people of South West St Catherine, and not necessarily over this particular episode, but over his general conduct.

But in the instant case, how does his rudeness and crudity rise to the level of intimidation requiring international intervention? Did he call out a gang of goons to attack the reporter? Did he threaten to attack her physically in any specific way? I am told he was even more crude in a follow-up off-air discussion with CVM's news management.

Warmington may have behaved like a 'skettel' at a standpipe, but we need not make this out to be more than it is. The complaints of the Press Association of Jamaica and the Media Association Jamaica Ltd have been properly directed to the leadership of the JLP, of which Mr Warmington is a member. Let's not make this, however, the media crisis of the month.

Don't sweat the small stuff

What on earth would we do if we had to operate in sections of Latin America where corrupt politicians and their backers in the business community conspire to snuff out the lives of reporters regularly? My media colleagues need to get over themselves and not sweat the small stuff.

In similar vein, I find much of the discussion and debate about threats and potential threats against press freedom in Jamaica to be tiring. Few, if any, of the respondents have buttressed their arguments by showing that in the pursuit of a specific story, media were stymied either by existing laws or actions of public figures. We have cited the Sullivan and Reynolds principles as desirable benchmarks in the revision of our libel laws. And perhaps they should be our guide.

But what will be interesting is to see whether the same arguments will be made with equal vigour when the focus is not on public figures but also on private business leaders. The Sullivan principle is not exclusive. Frankly, restrictive libel laws and intimidating politicians are the least of the obstacles in the way of journalists doing their jobs properly in Jamaica. Intellectual laziness and insufficient resources play a far greater role in getting the 'real story' published.

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