The panel discussion organised today by the US embassy was to focus on the role of the media in elections. The debate, thanks to questions and remarks from the floor, opened up to include other current and recurrent questions, namely how free is the press vis-à-vis political leaders and parties, advertising as well as readership.
Do media outlets have political agendas? For Christina Chan-Meetoo, lecturer at the University of Mauritius and panelist, a few media owners, our local “media barons”, have publicly displayed their political colours. People might in turn perceive that a newspaper, radio or website favours a political party.
Dan Bhundoo, cofounder of Democracy Watch and copanelist, highlighted the tensions and ethical issues that may arise regarding advertisers and the money they invest, and certain press coverage. He stressed that “bashing” of a certain media outlet by government and opposition parties alike was “good” for that particular media, in that this gives it increased credibility.
Furthermore, how events are reported and air time given on TV and radios also inform viewers’ opinion. As an example, Christina Chan-Meetoo and Rabin Bhujun, managing editor at ION News, referred to the 2010 general elections and the coverage given to political parties and figures by the national TV and radio station.
Although, as Axcel Chenney, editor in chief of Radio Plus pointed out, smaller political parties like Lalit and Rezistans ek Alternativ have been “consistent” in their discourse over the years, the mainstream parties tend to grab the most attention. One of the explanations, according to Rabin Bhujun, being that this is what the public wants. This doesn’t mean, however, that the press doesn’t have a responsibility towards its readers, viewers and listeners to keep them informed fairly and truthfully.
Photo: The panelists of the debate organised by the US Embassy at the Port-Louis City Club: Dan Bundhoo, cofounder of Democracy Watch; Christina Chan-Meetoo, lecturer at the University of Mauritius, and Rabin Bhujun, managing editor at ION News.
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