Media Outraged

Many media professionals said this is a blow to freedom of the press in The Bahamas and questioned whether Junkanoo administrators understand the real function of the fourth estate.

Assistant Director of Culture with responsibility for Junkanoo Eddison Dames sent letters to local news directors this week indicating that they would be charged an accreditation fee to provide coverage of the Junior Junkanoo, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day parades.

"We are writing to inform you that a new policy has been put in place for representatives of media companies and photographers who are assigned to cover the upcoming 2007/08 Junkanoo parades in New Providence," the letter states.

"Media companies and photographers/videographers are now to pay a fifty dollar fee for use of accreditation vest[s] for each of the parades. Photographers and videographers will be required to pay a fee in the amount of $300 for each parade in order to be accredited to enter the parade route to take photographs or video footage."

Mr. Dames indicated in the letter that the ministry is striving to reduce the number of persons on the parade route because of the number of new media companies.

The new rule, which is unprecedented, does not apply to the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas (BCB).

Upon hearing of the ministry’s decision, Wendall Jones, CEO of Jones Communications Network – the parent company of Bahama Journal, Love 97 and JCN TV – expressed outrage.

"The decision by the Junkanoo administrators is a flagrant violation of the rights of the media in a democratic society. One has to question if they begin with charging reporters for covering a national event like Junkanoo where would it stop," he said.

"Owners and editors [of local media houses] should condemn that decision. This is the first time in my 35 years in journalism that I have seen any government entity charging the media to cover any event. That decision should be reversed because it is nonsensical. Photographers, videographers and reporters should not be charged at all."

He said rather than putting obstacles in the way of the media, the government ought to facilitate the media covering these national events for the Bahamian public.

Mr. Dames explained in an interview with the Bahama Journal that the decision is simply a means of bringing more order to the coverage of the parades.

"This year in particular we are empowering a task force, who will be policing persons more rigidly; those persons who are accredited to be on the parade route. Those who don’t have the proper attire will certainly be escorted off of the parade route," said Mr. Dames.

"We are just sounding the gong at this time so that all persons who would like to be a part of the process, they will have to come in and see us and be properly accredited and approved to be in those areas."

However, the explanation found no endorsement among many news media leaders.

"It’s a sad day when an attempt is made to charge the Bahamian media to cover an event that is such a magnificent display of Bahamian culture. The only reason that we cover Junkanoo religiously every year is because essentially we want to help keep it alive in the hearts and minds of Bahamians for generations to come," said Jones Communications News Director Tameka Lundy.

"What is even more egregious is that such a move was made without any kind of consultation with the media. What a pity!"

Tribune News Editor Paco Nunez called the move ridiculous.

"Apparently they [the ministry] believes that both Bay Street and Downtown belong to them and not the Bahamian people," said Mr. Nunez.

"As far as we are concerned the government has no right to charge local press to cover a national cultural event. Next thing you know they will want us to buy tickets to attend parliament. I can only assume that the number of additional media companies they refer to are foreign and therefore this is an overt effort to discourage local reporters from bringing coverage of the parades to their audiences. We consider that to be discrimination."

The Nassau Guardian’s news editor Erica Wells also expressed disappointment in the decision.

"I was surprised and disappointed when I saw the release and I am very curious to find out the explanation behind it. I can understand them charging private individuals but I cannot understand them charging accredited media houses to cover what is essentially a public event," she told the Journal.

Responding to the explanation that the move was precipitated by the advent of more media houses interested in covering the parade, Ms. Wells said, "I think really it’s on them to determine how they are going to address that situation. I don’t think that all media houses should be penalized for that."

Ms. Wells called the decision not to charge the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas the accreditation fee "unfair".

"It just doesn’t make any sense to me," she said.

"I think it is sort of outrageous. I hope they reconsider."

More 94 FM CEO Gaylan Saunders said he flat out disagreed.

"I’m not sure what promoted it or what their reasoning is behind it. I feel as though [Junkanoo] is an event of national interest and charging us is just like asking us to pay to watch the event," Mr. Saunders said.

"We’re sending professionals to cover the event and bring it to the Bahamian public at large, who aren’t able to get to see it. We’re doing a service to the public and we pay our taxes like everybody else. The media houses should be allowed to participate in this like anyone else and broadcast it to the world."

Cyprianna McQueeny at GEMZ FM said she hadn’t actually received the letter yet.

In defence of the ministry’s decision, Mr. Dames maintained that officials have a huge concern about overcrowding by media personnel in Rawson Square.

"We will also be policing more rigidly those photographers and vidoegraphers that will be in Rawson Square. Those that would like to have the privilege of participating will have to come in and go through the process," he said.

When asked what would become of the money collected from local media houses, Mr. Dames said it would go toward the enhancement of the Junkanoo parades.