I WAS forced into a mode of retaliation when I read (in the KN – June 12, 2011), the article: ‘There can only be negative news these days’, penned by Adam Harris. This brings back memories of what his fellow columnist, Freddie Kissoon, said some time ago, that the ‘objective of a political analyst is to find fault.’ This is absolute balderdash, but it reflects the pseudo-philosophy of both men, and so, I am not surprised at Adam Harris; only disgusted.

Firstly, I contest the point that (according to Harris), “More often than not people prefer to hear about  shocking things like the murders, the rapes and the robberies. Indeed, they would also want to hear about the good things, but more often than not they would not be content with only the good news.”

This is an assumption that is not tenable. In KN’s case, I am sure that it has not been tested. However, it is apparent that KN is not ‘news oriented’ as such. It has what seems like an anti-Jagdeo mission, and therefore, it seeks to ensure a thrust in this direction. That is why, just too many times, its news pieces lack corroborative evidence. It takes a slant towards sensationalisn, and it misses or leaves out the obvious (if it is against its mission). As far as I am concerned, it is a stupid utterance, and ‘a bad hope and desire.’ It also assumes that the receiving public is sadistic and cruel, and therefore ‘rejoices’ in the misfortunes of a locale.

Secondly (as is his wont – conjuring up stories), Adam Harris referred to (his) fact that: “… (t) here was a newspaper in the United States that opted to print only good news. And so it did, but it did not last long”.  I mean ‘simply name the paper,’ for I would like to read up on its history. Maybe other factors contributed to its brevity and death.

I personally read a lot of ‘good news’ publications and these have been in long existence (Hour of Decision, Good News Broadcaster, Daily Bread Devotional, etc.). Adam ‘majestically’ and ‘triumphantly’ says that ‘people want the bad news’ so (I ask), how come (according to his own words) “… (he gets) a bit annoyed when people call me to complain that all I seem to print is the negative news.” (Dear Adam, you have debunked yourself). Here is assininity unmatched. I Repeat: Adam Harris claims that people want to hear/read ‘bad’ news, and in the same breath, he says that “these same people’ ask why he writes only bad news. Wow!
Finally, I utter a big ‘no’ for “…these days the negative news (does not) seem to predominate.
There is a lack of candour and professionalism in the supposedly ‘professional’ media houses of Guyana. News is news, but when one sets out to cast aspersions, it ceases to be news. Recently, so many salubrious things have been happening, I am left to wonder if the ‘Freddie look for bad only’ syndrome is not the motive of these media houses. I close with some good news.
The LCDS, the Norwegian input, Jagdeo personage, education infrastructure, the great response to the Lethem flood, and add infinitum…