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Mars

http://www.inewsguyana.com/pri...chronicle-newspaper/

Prime Minister’s Office to approve all headlines in Chronicle Newspaper

August 26, 2015 3:40 pm Category: latest news A+ / A-

By Fareeza Haniff

Director of Public Information, Imran Khan

[www.inewsguyana.com] – The Office of the Prime Minister has taken control of the State owned Guyana Chronicle Newspaper, following the brazen front page headline in the Tuesday, August 25 edition.

iNews has been reliably informed that General Manager of the Guyana Chronicle, Michael Gordon has been instructed to ensure that all headlines are sent to Director of Public Information in the Office of the Prime Minister, Imran Khan, before the paper goes to press.

It should be noted that this decision by the APNU+AFC government goes against the very stance taken by the Party during its time in the Opposition, where it had heavily criticized the then PPP administration for controlling what the State media produces and publishes on a daily basis.

iNews also understands that this very procedure was done under the People’ National Congress (PNC) when the Minister of Information would dictate what goes in the paper.

Prime Minister, Moses Nagamootoo, who is also responsible for the Information sector, had vowed that he would not be a “minister of interference”, noting that he respects press freedom.

The situation took a turn for the worse on Tuesday, when Nagamootoo expressed “disappointment” with the headline carried by the newspaper and even sought to reprimand the journalist, Derwayne Wills, at Parliament Building.

Prime Minister Moses Nagamootoo

The article headlined: “Gov’t blunders on Budget Estimates … violates laws assented to by President Granger” made it pass the Editor and onto the front page of the Guyana Chronicle and has been making it rounds on social media.

While the Prime Minister is claiming that he does not interfere with the editorial department of the newspaper, his Director of Public Information was observed inside the newsroom on Tuesday evening, August 26, passing instructions.

iNews made contact with Khan, who promised to return a call to the news entity, but up to the time of publishing that was not done.

Story Updated at 4:17 pm: Khan subsequently made contact with iNews and denied that he has to “approve” the headlines; however he confirmed that he did indeed met with the Newspaper’s General Manager on Wednesday, August 26, where “other” issues were discussed. Khan also denied that he was present at the Guyana Chronicle Newspaper on Tuesday night.

Replies sorted oldest to newest

MarsSenior Member

8/26/1510:03 PM

cainTired old hippie

Could Mr Councieman please come in...pleeeeease councieman.

8/26/1510:52 PM

ZedSenior Member

Originally Posted by Mars:

Do you really think that he will confirm that he has to approve all headlines even if it is so?

8/26/1511:56 PM

MarsSenior Member

Originally Posted by Zed:

Originally Posted by Mars:

Do you really think that he will confirm that he has to approve all headlines even if it is so?

Since the PPP lost control of the Chronicle and GINA, they have resorted to using media sites such as iNews and the Guyana Times to peddle their propaganda. This article reeks of irresponsible journalism and should not have been published without proper proof. In the past few years the PPP have concocted many such stories and they all have a common theme. They always state that they have a reliable source without naming the source. Most times they turn out to be bullshit. There are numerous examples of this littered all over this forum. If you think that the story has any truth to it, then furnish us the proof. Don't have us waiting in vain like Brother Bob.

8/27/1512:27 AM

ZedSenior Member

Originally Posted by Mars:

Originally Posted by Zed:

Originally Posted by Mars:

Do you really think that he will confirm that he has to approve all headlines even if it is so?

I understand lots of newspapers over the world get involved in such practice. i still question whether he would confirm it if the story were true? He did confirm that he was there sometime within the time frame. Does not prove anything.

8/27/157:54 AM

MarsSenior Member

Originally Posted by Zed:

Originally Posted by Mars:

Originally Posted by Zed:

Originally Posted by Mars:

Do you really think that he will confirm that he has to approve all headlines even if it is so?

Many newspapers may use this practice when they are sure that they do have a reputable source. However, in the case of the PPP rags, when they mention a reliable source and they can't provide a name, it usually amounts to useless lies.

If shit had wings it would fly. There is no way to accurately predict how the government would respond if they were indeed guilty Ms. Cleo.

The onus is not on the government to provide proof of anything. The newspaper is the one making accusations and hence they are saddled with the responsibility of providing proof to verify the accuracy of the story. The mere fact that the editor did not offer any proof in the 4.17 update speaks volumes. It shows that they have no proof.

8/27/158:17 AM

ZedSenior Member

Originally Posted by Mars:

Originally Posted by Zed:

Originally Posted by Mars:

Originally Posted by Zed:

Originally Posted by Mars:

Do you really think that he will confirm that he has to approve all headlines even if it is so?

If shit had wings it would fly. There is no way to accurately predict how the government would respond if they were indeed guilty Ms. Cleo.

The story is out there and they are trying to deal with it. But the question is still whether he would confirm it if it were true. He is media savvy enough to position himself so that he has plausible deniability. Have a good day. Have to go because I am travelling today. Maybe later in the evening.

8/27/158:44 AM

Ramakant-PSenior Member

They are caught red handed and Ramjattan knows how to do damage control. For years he lied for the PPP and now what he did for them, he is doing it to them. That the 'Coolie Chamaar' for you.

8/27/158:53 AM

MarsSenior Member

Originally Posted by Zed:

Originally Posted by Mars:

Originally Posted by Zed:

Originally Posted by Mars:

Originally Posted by Zed:

Originally Posted by Mars:

Do you really think that he will confirm that he has to approve all headlines even if it is so?

If shit had wings it would fly. There is no way to accurately predict how the government would respond if they were indeed guilty Ms. Cleo.

As I said before, there is no way to accurately predict how the government would respond if they were indeed guilty but if you know please share with us.

8/27/159:41 AM

MarsSenior Member

This story falls short of iNews’ standards

Aug 27, 2015

0 2

We simply have to return to the iNews story of yesterday which declares there is a new government policy that the “Prime Minister’s Office (is) to approve all headlines in Chronicle Newspaper”.

While the article was met with shock and horror on social media, journalists know a flimsy story when they see one. This article basically only has two pieces of information. (the rest is bulked out with the remarks of Nagamootoo who indeed blundered in his comments)

That Imran Khan “Director of Public Information was observed inside the newsroom on Tuesday evening, August 26, passing instructions”.
And that “iNews has been reliably informed that General Manager of the Guyana Chronicle, Michael Gordon has been instructed to ensure that all headlines are sent” to Khan “before the paper goes to press”

Khan subsequently denied he was at the Chronicle on Tuesday night only a couple of hours after the story was posted. His denial was tagged at the bottom of the story. Later a reporter attached to the Chronicle was asked if Khan was there and he replied he wasn’t there. It seems very clear now that Khan was not in the building and as such that part of the story is factually incorrect. As for the meeting with Gordon, that was scheduled since Monday as Khan has since mentioned and it was meant to be at the Chronicle, but Gordon said he was in the area and could drop by Khan’s office. Hardly a summoning.

So where would iNews get such information? Obviously from someone inside the Chronicle, an organisation which is so riddled with political syphilis that one should be skeptical of every word anyone in there says or writes. Could it be engendered by this message which circulated to other media houses the same day?

Well we now know Khan was never there, so the second part that “he directed what the page one should be like” is also erroneous..and then… hold on…the source is citing “unconfirmed reports”? This does not rise above the level of gossip let alone form the basis for a news story stating emphatically that “Prime Minister’s Office to approve all headlines in Chronicle Newspaper”.

Now let’s say they have more or separate information – although their story does not provide any more details than that contained in the above message- but let’s just say they spoke to the deposed editor-in-chief Mark Ramotar or Raschid Osman or Michael Gordon, any one of who might have gripes over the impending changes at the newspaper, is it not in the interest of journalistic fairness that iNews first get a comment before declaring point blank “Prime Minister’s Office to approve all headlines in Chronicle Newspaper”? (Incidentally all headlines? Or just the front page, or just political? The story does not say. and apparently Khan will be making sure the WICB gets good press).

What exactly is the rush to post a story with tremendous consequences in terms of how people perceive the new administration’s approach to the state media? Nagamootoo has said previously his office would not interfere and indeed they want the Chronicle to cover all view points including the PPP’s. This supposed new policy of approving headlines flies in the face of that. And that is why it was essential iNews waited for a comment before publishing. And since there is no real deadline in new media, in contrast to newscasts and newspapers, the assertion that iNews could not wait on Khan and had to go to press is spurious.

Khan finally told the media after questioning by Gordon Moseley last night that he is “not aware of any such decision (to review headlines) being taken …or any such directive being issued”. That is a flat out denial of the article’s sole thrust which by now has more holes than Swiss cheese: Let’s recap:

1) He said he was not at the Chronicle Tuesday night and this was confirmed by a reporter.

2) He is not aware of any such policy or any such directive of headlines needing to be approved being issued.

At this point, it would be in the interest of iNews’ reputation for fairness to either retract the story or write a new one that reflects the comments of Khan. Tagging his comments on the bottom of the story is simply not good enough. As we know a lot of people only read the headlines, and legally a headline in and of itself can be libellous even if the story it sits upon is not. (NB: This is not a matter of libel)

It’s ok, sometimes journalists screw up and in fact there is something to be said for pushing the limits and to “publish and be damned”, rather than holding back information. But in this case it was a blunder.

http://gtmosquito.com/morning-...-of-inews-standards/

8/27/152:31 PM