By Reporters Without Borders,Stabroek News

Copyright stabroeknews

Dear Editor,

I wish to make a commentary on the letter appearing in yesterday’s SN titled, “Issues raised by Reporters Without Borders are valid and cumulatively constitute a threat to the press’s ability to hold power accountable without fear”.

First of all we must be pragmatic, not idealistic as this letter appears. The press and the powers that we have, from time immemorial, been on opposite sides of the fence. A true press (mind you, not a free press) have generally been a champion of the masses. All rights they earned for themselves as a press, and for the masses they represent, have had to be wrested from the powers that be, with the masses on their side; never mind those rights are written in glittering fonts in their Constitutions.

Corollary, a press that does not unambiguously represent the masses, and/or is not reciprocally supported by the masses, but only a few, is not a free press, though they may appear or claim to be. Likewise, it is easy to spot a press whose mouth, as Martin Carter said, is muzzled by the food it eats.

Interestingly, I have lived in the US since the mid-80s. This country is supposed to be the bastion and beacon of constitutionalized free speech. A freedom so many in the world yearn for, but ironically so many have and still clamor for more. But I have noticed that freedom of expression is this country is an illusion. The more I remain quiet and observe, the more I realize there is no such thing as a free press in this country. And nowhere in this world. So, this basic premise on which journalists claim they have rights is a utopian myth.

It is also an illusion that there is freedom of expression, even if enshrined in any Constitution. It is more practical to say, you have freedom of expression, but not freedom after expression. There is a price to pay, because no freedom has ever been free.

But apart from the price, all freedoms come with responsibilities. Freedoms and responsibilities are opposite sides of the same coin. Freedom without responsibilities is like the fictitious hero, James Bond, you have freedom to own a car, but you can’t go around mowing down people on the road. Sadly, I must observably say, I notice very little of this responsibility in Guyana and especially among young, cock-sure journalists in mainstream media, and predominantly so in social media. I even get the impression that many journalists don’t know the difference in reporting for mainstream media and writing in social media.

Now, coming back to the point I posed about illusions of the freedom of expression in this country, the “Epitome of freedoms” that is the envy of the world. The history road of this country is strewn with bodies of people (especially Blacks) who have paid the ultimate price for even having a dream of free expression. Today is even sadder. Jimmy Kimmel was fired yesterday for calling out a sadistic hate mongering racist for what he really was. A US marine was discharged for voicing the same sentiments. A worker in a private printing company was fired for refusing to print what was nationally known as lies peddled by this racist.

The Vice President has announced that anyone in the country who expressed open objection to the life and speeches of Charlie Kirk must be reported to their employers. All teachers are warned not to say anything against this hatemonger or they would be fired. In several states there are laws allowing private businesses to fire workers for even saying anything or engaging in any activity or personal behaviour whatsoever that might be construed as inimical to the reputation or profitability of their employers. Every day it gets more and more Hitlerite. Hundreds of acts of suppression of freedom of expression and other rights are legislated daily and baptized as such as redistricting constituencies.

So my fellow Guyanese writers, my simple advice is you must design your personal conscientious standards, morals and values as you pursue your career in this, the most dangerous but powerful profession in the world. But, don’t let the might of your pen diminish the danger of your tongue. Select a few good journalists and study them such as Fareed Zakaria, Christine Amanpour, Dana Bash, Lester Holt, Rickey Singh, Ulric Mentus, Kester Alves. But do emulate, take notes, follow examples, avoid their mistakes, and design your own course. Don’t carry a wheelbarrow of personal baggage when you go interviewing. Leave that home.

As you concentrate on objectivity and content, remember delivery is equally important. Study Forbes Burnham, you will learn tons. Lastly, avoid showing your disagreeability to the public, and watch your ratings rise.

Gokarran Sukhdeo