There have been many ‘developments’ in the press-govt relations these few days. The PM has heavily criticised the press and used quotes with allusion to prostitutes in his rantings against journalists.
This has of course spurred the profession to write even more articles about the threats that are hanging upon the heads of reporters, to organise debates on radio (of course nothing from MBC). The latest show I heard was yesterday on Radio One with Jean-Claude de L’Estrac (boss of L’Express) and minister Vasant Bunwaree. Apparently TopFM had also invited minister Rama Valayden and journalists Nad Sivaramen and Henri Marimootoo but I missed it.
Whereas Rama Valayden has denied the existence of a draft of the Media Commission Bill in an interview in Le Defi Plus, Vasant Bunwaree confirmed that the government is actively working on the project on Radio One. Which is which?
I listened partly to the show on Radio One yesterday while driving back home, I only managed to grasp a high repetition of the words ‘regulation’ and ‘auto-regulation’ during the short time that I listened to the show. IMHO, I don’t think the terms used by the PM is going to help his popularity [ that is, if he still does have any ] with the Press in general – taking into consideration that MBC does not form part of the Media/Press sector in any way for me.
This might be one of rare debates involving politics that I would like to follow. I hope the likes of L’Express and Le Mauricien along with the private radio stations will be able to keep up with the ‘challenges’ brought forward by the oh-so-nice-politicians.
cheers.
Yep,
De L’Estrac was the proponent of self-regulation, It must be noted that he was the one who asked Kenneth Morgan to produce a report on the possible setting up of a press council when he was president of the Media Trust in 1998-99.
As for Bunwaree, he was adamant about regulation from above as he thinks there is a machiavellian plot of the press against his govt. He also kept arguing that the PM’s allusion to prostitutes was in fact ‘just a quote’, not his own words. A rhetorical device to say: ‘Pa moi sa li sa’!…