Seminar on reporting judicial and police investigations in the media |14 April 2015

Is journalism being sacrificed for sensationalism?

Sensationalism affects both those who receive it and those who report it. How?
As newspapers, radio and television stations compete viciously for readers and audience of their respected newspapers and broadcasting stations, there is to some extent what is termed sensationalism in their reporting.

Journalists taking part in a two-day seminar were yesterday told by Nichole Tirant-Gerardhi, the former editor of TODAY in Seychelles newspaper, that “you may package your story sexily but whatever is said should not be defamatory”.

By “sexily” Mrs Tirant-Ghérardi meant being catchy and she noted that there are many ways to tell a story.

Mrs Tirant- Ghérardi is one of four presenters who took local journalists into a journey on the importance of reporting judicial and police investigations in the media during a seminar organised by the Seychelles Media Commission in conjunction with the United Nations Development Programmes.

Also an attorney at law, Mrs Tirant-Ghérardi’s presentation was entitled ‘Press Freedom v/s Right to a fair public hearing; Drawing the line between journalism and sensationalism’.

Justice Mathilda Twomey spoke about ‘Reporting on cases involving minors; Protection of victims and their families’, lawyer Bernard Georges talked about ‘Public’s right to know v/s Right to privacy’, and Association of Media Practitioners Seychelles chairman Gervais Henrie, who is also the editor of Le Seychellois Hebdo, explained to the gathering why it is important to report on court proceedings.

Mr Henrie noted that journalists should cover court proceedings as they act on behalf of other people who cannot attend court cases.

Jacky Sutton, who has spent almost two decades working with the United Nations in war zones around the world, is chairing the seminar which ends today.
Speaking at the opening ceremony yesterday morning at the Care House, Freedom Square, acting Chief Justice Durai Karunakaran said the role of the media is important and complex and he noted that silence is culpable when there is a duty to speak.

Justice Karunakaran noted that despite having the right to provoke public debate, mobilise public opinion and political pluralism, the media has to “treat all people involved in cases with dignity” and to “be extra cautious when coming out with breaking news”.

Roland Alcindor, programme manager of UNDP Seychelles, explained that the media being the fourth pillar of any society, has the right to inform which is critical in nation-building.

Going back to sensationalism one can say that it still remains a strong force in the local media, may it be in the form of pictures or articles.

Although sensationalism sells, journalists know themselves that they are breaking the ethical values that their profession was founded on. Responsible journalists are more accurate, less partisan and less attached as they value the difference between opinion and the truth.

When journalists resort to sensationalism they are only sacrificing their ethical standards and succumbing to the temptations of sensationalism for the sake of profit.