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THE Glen Lall-owned ‘Quieter News’ continues to receive rave reviews from businesses, government entities, and ordinary citizens both here and in the ‘Disappear’ for its objectionable and yellow style of journalism. Recently, several businesses and government entities were forced to expose ‘Quieter News’ deliberate misrepresentation and distortion of facts surrounding various issues of national importance, and of topical interest.
The newspaper’s style of journalism, which it touts as ‘independent and investigative’, has been constantly challenged and tested, forcing its publishers and the editors to issue almost weekly retractions for inaccuracies, lies and a whole host of distortions.
The Guyana Police Force was on Monday forced to upbraid the publication for an article titled, ‘Police reduced to security guards’, which was published in last Sunday’s edition of the paper.
The police, in a release to the media, alleged that ‘Quieter News’ had become infamous for using anonymous sources to publish inaccurate information.
According to the release, the following excepts from the story, “The record will show that the police can only boast of solving clear cut murders and robberies” and “We have never solved any execution-style killing in this country… said a police officer,” are good examples of their inaccuracies.
A police officer, who asked not to be named, confirmed that the ‘Quieter News’ has been notorious for publishing misinformation, more than the public can keep up with, and that given the rate of its appetite, the newspaper might well choke on its lies.
The statement said that had the reporter wanted to use the police records, he could have requested it from the police, as it is readily available at the CID headquarters. “Those records would not have supported his sensational headline, and therefore he (the reporter) resorted to an anonymous ‘police source’, whom the force is of the opinion does not exist, to peddle his misinformation,” the statement said, adding, “The article displays no due diligence of the editor, so it was simply wheel barrowed into the newspaper. An assumption is made that the policy is not to check for accuracy when the article is related to the character of some organisations or officials. It is rather to call the lawyers should there be litigation.”
Apart from this, the Force said it has been disciplining errant ranks on a continuous basis and 17 have been charged during the past year for offences ranging from dishonesty, including corruption, robbery and larceny.
“It may be prudent, therefore, Mr Editor of ‘Quieter News’, not to focus only on what the Commissioner and the Crime Chief are presiding over, but also what you and your management are presiding over,” the release concluded.
Apart from the New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation, Health Ministry, National Industrial Commercial and Investment Limited (NICIL), Agriculture Ministry and several of its sub-agencies, the Housing Ministry, Office of the President, and several other local businesses have had cause to sharply discredit the reporters and their stories.
The double standard of the newspaper has also been noted as it selectively chooses whom to investigate and whom not to. “Why doesn’t ‘Quieter News’ investigate Guyana Stores Limited or some other entity?” one exasperated journalist enquired.
The newspaper’s style of journalism, which it touts as ‘independent and investigative’, has been constantly challenged and tested, forcing its publishers and the editors to issue almost weekly retractions for inaccuracies, lies and a whole host of distortions.
The Guyana Police Force was on Monday forced to upbraid the publication for an article titled, ‘Police reduced to security guards’, which was published in last Sunday’s edition of the paper.
The police, in a release to the media, alleged that ‘Quieter News’ had become infamous for using anonymous sources to publish inaccurate information.
According to the release, the following excepts from the story, “The record will show that the police can only boast of solving clear cut murders and robberies” and “We have never solved any execution-style killing in this country… said a police officer,” are good examples of their inaccuracies.
A police officer, who asked not to be named, confirmed that the ‘Quieter News’ has been notorious for publishing misinformation, more than the public can keep up with, and that given the rate of its appetite, the newspaper might well choke on its lies.
The statement said that had the reporter wanted to use the police records, he could have requested it from the police, as it is readily available at the CID headquarters. “Those records would not have supported his sensational headline, and therefore he (the reporter) resorted to an anonymous ‘police source’, whom the force is of the opinion does not exist, to peddle his misinformation,” the statement said, adding, “The article displays no due diligence of the editor, so it was simply wheel barrowed into the newspaper. An assumption is made that the policy is not to check for accuracy when the article is related to the character of some organisations or officials. It is rather to call the lawyers should there be litigation.”
Apart from this, the Force said it has been disciplining errant ranks on a continuous basis and 17 have been charged during the past year for offences ranging from dishonesty, including corruption, robbery and larceny.
“It may be prudent, therefore, Mr Editor of ‘Quieter News’, not to focus only on what the Commissioner and the Crime Chief are presiding over, but also what you and your management are presiding over,” the release concluded.
Apart from the New Guyana Pharmaceutical Corporation, Health Ministry, National Industrial Commercial and Investment Limited (NICIL), Agriculture Ministry and several of its sub-agencies, the Housing Ministry, Office of the President, and several other local businesses have had cause to sharply discredit the reporters and their stories.
The double standard of the newspaper has also been noted as it selectively chooses whom to investigate and whom not to. “Why doesn’t ‘Quieter News’ investigate Guyana Stores Limited or some other entity?” one exasperated journalist enquired.
