…says GECOM Chairman
CHAIRMAN of GECOM, Dr. Steve Surujbally, said yesterday that the genesis of the Media Monitoring Unit (MMU) as an organisation dates back to the March 2001 general elections when media owners and operators drafted a Media Code of Conduct to guide the coverage and reporting of election related issues.
“This Code of Conduct was monitored for adherence by the local media by the first MMU set up by the Guyana Elections Commission in January, 2001. Subsequently, the unit was disbanded after the 2001 elections, only to be resuscitated for the August 2006 General and Regional Elections, this time guided by revised and an improved Media Code of Conduct which was endorsed by the then existing stakeholders, i.e. media owners and operators in the broadcast and print media, Guyana Elections Commission and the international donor community,” he said.

The establishment of the MMU in February 2006, for the 2006 General and Regional Elections, was influenced by the fact that Guyana’s tenuous social stability traditionally was put under siege during heightened political activities in the run-up to elections; the August 2006 elections being no exception.

According to GECOM, the unit was seen as necessary to keep partisan reporting of elections related issues to a minimum; curb excesses of those elements in the media fraternity who were inclined towards irresponsibility and recklessness; and ensure equity, fairness and balance in news reporting.

In light of this, the resuscitated MMU will focus attention on the media’s conduct during the pre-, peri-, and post elections periods elections 2011, to observe how electoral, political, governance and related social issues are treated and reported.

“This would ensure that reporters and purveyors of information to the general public who utilise the mass media are held accountable for their actions, especially those actions that are unprofessional and likely to have negative consequences for the holding of free and fair elections in a peaceful and stable environment,” said Dr. Surujbally.

He said the MMU, which is currently staffed with a manager, two supervisors, and eight media monitors, is located at 8, Church Street, Lacytown, Georgetown. The unit is being managed by Ms. Lavern Pinto, with assistance from the two supervisors, all of whom worked with the MMU since its establishment in February, 2006. The monitors had already been trained to carry out their respective areas of work.

He said the unit, which is adequately equipped, will get into operations on the basis of having established and maintained an excellent relationship with the media and other stakeholders.

The importance and need for the MMU should be seen and understood against the absence of broadcast legislation, and a ‘watchdog’ body to regulate media behaviour in Guyana, he said.

“With impending General and Regional Elections 2011, the unit’s resuscitation is based on the fact that Guyana’s generally peaceful and harmonious atmosphere can be placed at risk during the pre, peri and post elections period, through the action of “loose canons” in the media who show total disregard for the ethics and morals that guide the journalistic best practice,” he said.