Devon DickLAST WEEK Sunday, CVM TV commenced the celebration of its tenth anniversary with a worship service. Interestingly, one got the feeling that they came to worship. There was no message boasting about the achievements and encouraging persons to watch their station. Instead, the chairman, Neville Blythe, read a scripture lesson and the General Manager, Angella Patterson, sang in the CVM choir. Though the Minister of Information, the Honourable Burchell Whiteman, the Opposition spokesperson on Information, Miss 'Babsy' Grange and the Japanese Ambassador were present, there were no endorsement statements from them. This sober and solemn attitude does not mean that they have nothing to crow about.
In fact, since its inception, the CVM news team has copped twenty awards from organisations such as Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), the Caribbean Broadcasting Union (CBU) and the Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ). CVM has also donated scholarships to students, adopted schools, sponsored charitable events and highlighted the plight of persons in desperate need of medical attention.
Their newscasts do not only focus on the prominent politicians but give good sound bites from others at the same function. They are the 'small man' TV. I remember an incident some years ago on the Red Hills Road in which the residents were aggrieved and they blocked the road. They called for two things. They wanted Colonel Trevor Macmillan and CVM TV. I also remember CVM TV's coverage of the 90th anniversary of the Calabar High School press conference at the Hilton Hotel and in addition to what was said at the press launch they also went the extra mile and got footage from the school and broadcast it the same night.
There is need for more positive news. Elaine Commission-ing did a survey for the Gleaner publications, which found that Jamaicans wanted more good news stories and human interest stories. In addition, in Italy religious movies are the most popular type of movies. People are turning off the Hollywood 'senseless violence and loveless sex' movies. In the year CVM TV was born, there was a Gleaner editorial of July 10, 1993, which observed, "with the
heavy emphasis which these foreign programmes place on violence, there is certainly a case for good, clean local offering to come on screen. Dare we hope that there is some thinking of avoiding films that glorify irresponsible sexual behaviour, drug abuse, violent crime and irresponsible family life?" That is a continued challenge for CVM TV to produce and promote wholesome, indigenous movies and programmes for the family. One of the possible backlashes from the war in Iraq will be a yearning for movies and stories that promote peace and love.
CVM has some good programmes such as Ian Andrews 'where are they now'? which highlights former sporting greats who are largely forgotten and often are in pecuniary circumstances. There is also Orville Higgins' programme, which seeks to focus on potential stars of the future. They also have the best interviewer on TV, Wilford Williams who asks concise, relevant and probing questions (not statements) while allowing the guests to answer. All CARIMAC and other students of journalism/communication should be required to watch his interview with Ninja Man and Judy Mowatt.
CVM TV needs to develop half hour programmes on the best speeches of the week, allowing for six five-minute presentations. The coverage from Parliament, outside of Budget debates, could benefit from a similar presentation. School loyalty is still very strong in Jamaica and so a quiz competition for the lower school should be explored. It could also involve a fun component rather that strictly academic brilliance. It could be formatted off some of the better game shows. The point is that CVM must go for local material. Promote our heritage and tell our story.
There should be niche reporting. Let us hear the views of the Iraqi Deputy Prime Minister, Tariq Aziz, who is a Christian in the secular dictatorship of Saddam Hussein. Let us hear about the 1.2 million Christians in Iraq. These Assyrian Christians have a rich history. It was to them that the Apostle Thomas went and the King repented and it is claimed that that country became the first Christian nation. They have a story to tell and do not depend only on BBC and CNN.
In addition, CVM should not be an acronym for Church versus Media but rather there needs to be a greater co-operation between both bodies and CVM can foster this. The media can learn from the ethical insights of the church while the church can use the media in the spread of the good news.
CVM can look even better in the future if it focuses on indigenous materials that: promote wholesome values of peace, love, truth, honesty and forgiveness; recall our rich heritage and affirm our national identity.
The Rev Devon Dick is pastor of the Boulevard Baptist Church.
