Full Circle... (When the News-tellers become the News)

By her actions and ironically by her silence in this whole sordid affair, the central character in all the drama Editor in Chief Judy Raymond may have compromised the Trinidad Guardian's integrity, the Media Association of Trinidad & Tobago's purpose and her own personal reputation. Her remaining at the helm of either organization beyond this does no good and may in fact be a negative value to either, but that is a decision for others to make.

For her principled stand and self sacrificing actions in all of this, Dr. Sheila Rampersad seems to have 'taken basket' for people who never had the personal depth of character required to follow through in kind. Her comment on the issue that she felt betrayed speaks volumes as to the integrity of the people she was speaking of, and it would be a victory of inestimable proportions for those believers in the highest of journalistic principles that she be the one most rewarded going forward from here. Perhaps if the management of the Trinidad Guardian (or any competing news organization looking on for that matter) had any real clue as to where the high ground was, they would offer her the job as Editor in Chief.

Mainstream journalism itself risks taking a serious hit if many of the 'voices' who raised the ire of the public pretending that this 'might' have been a freedom of the press issue when they knew that it was anything but were to go without consequence to their actions.

Respected contributor Tillah Willah wrote in her own blog - “I have nothing to trade with the world but words. Words and my reputation. My reputation is that I say and do what I think is right.”

In his article - 'Guardian floor MATT for sale; unused and unloved by journalists,' Lasana Liburd jokingly quipped “A press conference is scheduled for Monday morning although the release did not say whether it would be held by MATT or the Trinidad Guardian, presuming there is a difference.”

Once again the question that has to be asked is, what is the real purpose of MATT? What was its role in this situation? Could it be that, as some are surmising, that it was 'used' as a high stakes bargaining chip to advance the careers of certain office holders within that organization?

If the Media Association of T&T wants to have any real relevance post 'Guardian-Drama' they are going to have to ask that, at the very least, both the president and the vice president do the right thing and step down. While it may not undo the damage already done, it could facilitate beginning the process of frank and open discussions as to what exactly transpired.

What the Guardian does from here is Guardian business and they are welcome to it, but it is my belief that they are going to lose a lot of ground over the naked perversion and the still unanswered questions as to what exactly took place last Wednesday. How they are going to reconcile demanding honesty and forthrightness from others when they themselves, when put on the very spot, failed miserably, is a job for their marketing and spin department.