Let’s also think through the editor’s decision to show this piece of footage. What purpose does it serve? What does it add to the public interest? How does it further democracy? Perhaps these questions are simply too weighty in an age when editors are struggling to drive page views, retain what few advertisers they have, and meet quarterly results. Let’s give them the benefit of the doubt- maybe they are trying to help the police to find the murderer. The full storydoes this, but let’s be real- Jamaica’s “informa fi dead” culture makes this extremely unlikely. The video is also not clear and is not that helpful in identifying the alleged assailant.

CBS’ 60 Minutes featured members of Jamaica’s LGTBQI community last night in the context of the Rainbow Railroad. This organization helps persecuted and endangered people flee their country. The story interviewed some Jamaicans who live in fear and want to migrate. The story was as well done as could be, as television journalism can be limiting. I think some people might say it presented the same old portrait of Jamaica as a homophobic hell. Of course, this is true for many in this community. It can be deadly, in fact. However, there has been a lot of progress. Attitudes are changing. P

New Buju Banton

It was Career Day yesterday. I talked about being a journalist and interviewed two students. They both brought up by themselves being stung by a bee, so that’s what I filed a story about for CLC Times.

On Saturday, we learned that police accosted two children, aged four and eight, at their home because they were home-schooled. They were taken to the police station, shorn of their dreadlocks and fed chicken.

Or so the Jamaica Gleaner says. Apparently we are to believe one unverified account. Later on Saturday, the police denied the whole thing, instead blaming a family member.

This story should not have gotten out the door. It was one account, unverified, as I said. It is a confusing, convoluted tale, that if true, is horrific and demands further attention. It should have not been published and investigated further. As it is now, it is ripe for a libel lawsuit. I guess the Gleaner does not have lawyers read their copy anymore. I saw lots of comments on social media that the Gleaner has no credibility anymore, and it should not. These are simple mistakes to avoid. Take some more time, get some more accounts, get an official reaction from the police.

As I teach my students, verification is a skill specific to a trained journalist. It is something learned. It is essential in presenting information. But I find a lot of the Gleaner’s stories are simply one person being quoted throughout, without any sort of journalistic structure.

It is very sad. The Gleaner is an old, old newspaper. It has a reputation that is being frittered away with carelessness. At least that is what I ascribe it to. It cannot be to get that scoop out there, because that sense of competition denotes pride in your work, and I don’t see any pride in the product the Gleaner is putting out.