There seems to be a new trend of statements from “a Government spokesman, who would not be named”. How can someone be an official spokesman if they demand anonymity? Government insists that it has modelled the Media Council Bill on the UK Press Complaints Commission. Certainly some of the words have been borrowed, but certainly [...]
Entries Tagged as 'Media'
Control, Not Independence
May 18th, 2010 · Comments Off · Media
Bermudians are remarkably forgiving of our political leaders hijinks even when they cost us serious money, damage our economy, and erode our rights. Outsiders, however, often see clearly when things are not right. The director of the International Press Institute just published a scathing blogitorial on Dr. Brown’s Media Suppression Bill. Although the media are [...]
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Running Against the Tide
May 18th, 2010 · Comments Off · Media
Last week Dr. Brown introduced his Media Council Bill (aka the Media Suppression Act) which seems designed to harass the local press. Yesterday, President Obama signed the Daniel Pearl Freedom of the Press Act which requires the Department of State to include in their annual human rights reports by country: (A) a description of the [...]
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Detrimental Impact
May 17th, 2010 · Comments Off · Media
The International Press Institute has come out against Dr. Brown’s execrable Media Council Bill (aka the Media Suppression Act) saying It is very unfortunate that Bermuda, with its geographical closeness to the United States and its cultural and political ties to the United Kingdom, has managed to draft a law that would be wholly unacceptable [...]
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Yokel Signing in for Duty
May 17th, 2010 · Comments Off · Media
The PLP’s proposed Media Council Bill is attracting the derision it deserves from international freedom of speech groups. It is a hatchet job and should not be passed. The local media need to get their act together and form a self-regulatory press council. What are you waiting for? The warning shots for Dr. Brown’s latest [...]
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Dr. Brown’s Muddled Media Muzzle
May 14th, 2010 · Comments Off · Bermuda Politics, Media
A reader sent me the draft Media Council Act 2010 (pdf) that was tabled in the House of Assembly last week. As usual, it is not available on any Government website and has received little public attention, even though it could move to a vote at any time in Parliament. I believe the Media Council [...]
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Bermuda Second
February 28th, 2010 · 2 Comments · Bermuda Politics, Media
It appears that journalist Roger Crombie has been term limited out. This is a bad and self-defeating move: he’s the best known business journalist associated with Bermuda, and his coverage of Bermuda’s international sector has contributed significantly to the island’s reputation and growth. He is well respected, and conversant with the leaders of all aspects [...]
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Injunction Lifted
December 18th, 2009 · 1 Comment · Bermuda Politics, Media
The injunction against the Royal Gazette’s mystery story has been lifted, allowing the story to be published here. As it turns out, it’s not the grand evidence of mischief that many people were anticipating, but rather some straightforward news that Dr. Brown and Derrick Burgess (Minister of Works & Engineering) are seeking to buy the [...]
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Government Injunction Against the Media
December 16th, 2009 · 1 Comment · Media
The PLP and the Bermuda Government like to talk about their commitment to transparency and freedom of the press. But their actions undercut their claims. Bermudians woke up today (with the gunshots still ringing in their ears) to a daily newspaper that was also shot full of holes. It appears that the Royal Gazette was [...]
Tags:FOIA·PATI·Press Freedom
Mouthpiece
November 5th, 2009 · Comments Off · Bermuda Politics, Media
At the public forum on Freedom of the Press last night, the Bermuda Human Rights Commission (HRC) revealed that it had consulted with the UN Human Rights Commissioner Navi Pillay in May after our Premier instructed his press secretary to reduce contact with The Royal Gazette. The UN Commissioner was quoted by HRC Chairwoman Venous [...]
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