CHAIRMAN of the Guyana National Newspapers Limited (GNNL), Mr. Keith Burrowes along with several members on the board of directors on Thursday met with staff to address issues they might be faced with. The staff was given the opportunity to ask questions and make suggestions with regards to improving the Chronicle; this was also done by the Chairman along with the board members.
In light of the recent content being carried in the publication, Mr.Burrowes instructed that reporters to get a copy of the journalistic protocols to assist in this regard.
Current and future concepts were discussed; one such idea was adding more value to what is being written.
“We want to enhance content, we will go around doing that by having training sessions for staff members among other initiatives,” he emphasised.
He spoke specifically about reporters who are assigned to beats and them dealing with other areas that would coincide with the various sectors that are being undertaken by them.
He disclosed that he will also be looking at bringing on researchers to work along with the editorial department, to assist in finding the necessary background information to add more to a story thus making the public/reader more aware of the history of an event/project.
The chairman also reiterated the fact that the paper’s main shareholder is the Government of Guyana.
He said, despite the perception that the papers writes to favour the Peoples Progressive Party Administration, the Chronicle will continue to carry developmental stories that are being undertaken within Guyana.
Mr. Burrowes stated that he has no concern for criticism, “If there is an opening of a new school we will carry it ….and we will continue to carry developmental stories,” he stressed.
The chairman also touched on the works that are being undertaken by the board in terms of enhancing the capacity of the staff though regular meetings and training sessions.
In other instances, several other areas were looked at and discussed. The whole issue of professionalism and editor/reporter relationship was dealt with.
The issue of reporters following diligently the code of ethics of the company, “A whole number of initiatives similar to the mastermind Quizz will be implemented,” he disclosed.
The brainchild of none other than Company Chairman, Mr. Keith Burrowes, and the idea brings to the Web an Online educational game designed to stimulate thinking, challenges, encourages and offers general practice to Fifth and Sixth Graders.
In commending the Guyana Chronicle and all those who worked on developing the programme at its launching, President Bharrat Jagdeo was quoted as saying:
“I think it’s going to make a big difference among our kids as we reinforce this competitive behaviour in a collegial kind of atmosphere. It also expands the knowledge-base of our kids, so I am very very pleased with it.”
At the time, he’d also committed to supporting the game, given that the concept was timely, in the sense that it came just when the government was executing its One Laptop per Family (OLPF) project.
Mr. Burrowes had said that the game focuses on competition among children.
“We built it, and as a part of building it, we had the involvement of the students; we got their views. There was the involvement of the students and the teachers… Some of the benefits are direct, and some of the benefits are indirect,” he said.
One such benefit, which will be given to the top five winners, is the opportunity of having their own ‘Early Savers’ bank account, thanks to the interest shown in the project by one of its sponsors, the Guyana Bank for Trade, Industry and Commerce (GBTI).
The idea was said to encourage early and responsible saving among these young participants.
Looking down the road, Mr. Burrowes feels there is scope to further develop the game, thereby making it more interactive for children the world over, including those in places like Toronto, New York and the Metropolis.
“One such idea,” he postured, “is the addition of webcam tools and applications so that children could compete with each other while seeing each other.”
The game has to date attracted scores of children from all across the country, and so far, an average of 4000 questions have been recorded.