On the other hand John T. Rourke in his epic on contemporary political issues, `Taking Sides I’ warns that any publication that “…debates vital issues is valuable and necessary… It is important to recognize that politics is usually not a subject of absolute rights and absolute wrongs and of easy policy choices. We (writers) have a responsibility to study the issues thoroughly, and we should be careful to study all sides of the debates.”

Belizeans must accept the importance of a free and independent press and the vital role it plays in a democratic society. The government must continue to encourage free and unfettered expression no matter where it emanates from. The media serve as the principal link of communication between government and people and essential for democracy to flourish. The independent media should be the watchdog of the people’s interest, informing the public of what is happening in government irrespective of how much the information conflicts with reporters interests or views (inconvenient truth).

It is fair to say that to the extent that the `independent’ media have been reporting the news they have fallen short of those expectations and have largely used the freedom of the press in Belize to engage in an adversarial relationship with government. There is no problem for the independent media to criticize and expose wrong-doings in government but they also have a sacred responsibility to equally do the same thing to the Opposition which is a government in waiting. Look at the deafening silence of the independent media on issues that plaque the Opposition. The Leader of the Opposition has said several things that have far-reaching and enormous implications for the justice system and land tenure rights in Belize. Not a single effort at a critical commentary on the issues by the self-proclaimed independent media. Are they intimidated  by the Opposition? Is the claim of independence a façade and a self-serving menu of diatribe?

The independent media have been very critical of the Musa Administration yet the Prime Minister is the strongest and unflinching advocate of the freedom of the press. He would rather, like Nehru, have a completely free press with all the dangers in the wrong use of that freedom than a suppressed and regulated press. Ask Barrow and Esquivel, both advocates of a strong government, if they believe in that dictum. They will only give it lip service. Ask Lois Young what it is like to consider attacking political opponents on the airwaves as fair game but when an advertisement referred to her in unflattering terms she ran and cried before the Court. They will muzzle the media if given the opportunity.

There is no doubt that the independent media have on several occasions indulged in speculative reporting; have overtly sought sensational stories; have chosen to misrepresent and ignore important stories; have manufactured news rather than undertake the hard work of honest investigation (ask the Reporter); have given credibility to incredible stories such as bogus opinion polls; and have supported narrow interests. Reporting has become very shallow: very short clips are used for broadcasting purposes, and commentators consider themselves properly informed when they do not in fact have the full information on the matters they comment on. The Belize people are not blind to those shortcomings of the media. The decline in values with regards to factual and honest reporting is turning off many Belizeans from reading the so-called independent newspapers and watching the news on television.

The implications for a Belize devoid of a truly independent media are enormous. Belize is a vibrant democracy. That vibrancy is by and large fuelled by the freedom of expression engendered by the PUP government, particularly led by Said Musa. The vigorous and strident approach that the independent media have taken to hold the government to account is laudable and should continue. But at the same time they are also responsible to account to their customers, the people. They must be honest with the people. They must be credible. They must cease mistaking fair comment from editorials cloaked as news. Our reporters should avoid falling in a situation that Winston Churchill so aptly stated: “It is not that they are ignorant, they simply know too many things that are not correct.”

We know that the media is a powerful institution in a free and democratic society. Depending on the integrity of the producers of news the media can be a potent force for positive change. The media can use that power to inform, entertain and educate the people. Democratic values, like tolerance and respect can  be reinforced by the media. However, if the people perceived the independent media to be manipulative, deceitful and unfair then they will lose faith in the Fourth Estate. They would have created their own sword of Damocles. Wouldn’t that be a terrible and dreadful prospect to contemplate?