Media upset over broadcast code

Following the publication by way of media advertisements of the draft document for the development of a National Broadcasting Code for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago by the Telecommunications Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT), a number of top media personnel yesterday expressed some reservations over the code. TATT stated that the document was geared towards the development and promulgation of a Broadcasting Code as prescribed in Section 79 of Telecommunications Act number four of 2001, and is of the view that the Broadcasting Code does not seek to abrogate, abridge or authorise the abrogation, abridgement or infringement of these freedoms as stated in clause 1.4.

It adds in clause 1.5 that the challenge to the broadcaster would now be to determine how to cater suitably for the complexities of human behaviour in our multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, and multi-religious democratic society within the parameters of the code. However, head of news at i95.5 FM radio station, Dale Enoch, said there were a couple of things in the draft that he had deep concerns about, as they amount to censorship. “I don’t support censorship. It has no place in a democracy. There are some clauses in the draft that I hope never see the light of day. Thank God it’s only a draft,” Enoch stated.

Also commenting on the draft was current president of the Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago (MATT) and producer/presenter at NCCTV, John Victor, who felt the draft policy was yet another attempt to muzzle the media. He said, “While programming must observe moral decency, from my initial reading of the draft, it is a clear attempt to muzzle the media.” Victor was also curious as to how 22 radio stations, four television stations and a cable station were going to be monitored 24 hours a day. He expressed the hope that the TATT get the widest possible consultations on the code as he strongly feels that it goes against the principles of genuine freedom of the press.

From the print media, executive chairman at Newsday, Therese Mills, said: “We need to be vigilant with respect to any Government attempt at control of our freedom of expression, whether in the print or broadcast media. Having said that, however, we recognise that freedom of expression also demands responsibility on our part. And therein lies the challenge. We cannot deny that there is much irresponsibility, coarseness and a lack of knowledge in branches of the media today that need to be addressed, by the media itself, if we are to avoid creeping censorship.” Hardest hit appears to be the cable station, but Winston Butler, chief executive at the Cable Company of Trinidad and Tobago (CCTT), was not willing to publicly comment on the draft in anticipation of today’s consultations, which take place at the National Library.