FEEDBACK
published:
Tuesday | December 20, 2005
Security Forces patrol a murder scene in Jones Town, St. Andrew, on November 16. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
The Gleaner and The Sunday Gleaner will not be publishing crime stories on their front pages for the month of December. Today we share with you feedback from our readers. We urge you to join the debate. Send your comments to editor@gleanerjm.com, fax 922-6223; or write to The Editor, the Gleaner Company Ltd., P.O. Box 40, 7 North Street, Kingston.
Relief for Japan resident
THE EDITOR, Sir:
AS I read the suggestion of not printing crime stories on the front pages, a wave of relief came over me. I think that these young men who are committing these acts of violence thrive on the idea that they made the front page.
Some of these young men have a low self-esteem and have never been acknowledged for anything so they derive pleasure from seeing stories about themselves on the front pages.
I reside in Japan and in this country there are some very brutal and senseless acts of violence. However, the media coverage of these incidents is limited to the second page of the newspaper. Recently, a seven-year-old girl was brutally murdered on her way from school. Though people heard of the story, it never made the front page!
The crime is not the important thing to Japanese, getting the criminals is where the focus lies, so immediately steps are taken to get this murderer to justice.
I suggest:
1. Using the second page of The Gleaner for crime and acts of violence, and keep the stories as brief as possible; no need to spell out the sick details.
2. Use current happenings on the front page; look at stories of interesting events on the social or international scene, something I can be proud of as a Jamaican.
3. Feature more good things about our children. I really enjoyed your articles on those children who did so well in their examinations. This means the country has a future.
I would love to print the front page of my country's newspaper and use in my classes here in Japan but I can't; I have to spend all the time defending my country's image explaining that Jamaica is a beautiful place to live and visit.
I hope my suggestions are helpful. I am proud of the Gleaner Company for taking this stand as we try and get the country back to some sense of decency and pride.
I am, etc.,
PATRICIA WHITE-
WILSON
patios56@hotmail.com
Crime is our biggest issue
THE EDITOR, Sir:
I AM very concerned by the decision of The Gleaner to remove crime reports from the front pages for the month of December. Sir, crime is the biggest problem in Jamaica today and it has been the biggest problem over the last five years. Crime is slowly poisoning the 'social life' of Jamaica and not reporting it only keeps the focus off this 'slow death' and can only help to expedite the 'death' of the nation.
I do not believe in one of your premises that "some surveys have concluded that prior crime reports are 'glorifying' dons and gangsters. Sir, if you want to do a better service to Jamaica, it would be better if you advise some of your reporters to conduct interviews within the various communities in the country where the 'real news' on crime and violence is. If you conduct this exercise, you will not only expose many criminals but you will also be giving notice to other criminals, and would-be criminals that your 'microscope' may be focussed on them shortly. Sir, contrary to what the surveys are saying, I do not believe (and I think many other people share this belief) that the current reporting of crimes is "glorifying criminals and dons".
I am, etc.,
WILBERT DAVIS
Postive news, great move
THE EDITOR, Sir:
I think it is an unprecedented move by any media entity when they can make a decision to waver what is obviously profitable i.e.crime and violence and put forth ideals that are necessary for the growth of the state. The "dons" or area leaders do not need to bedirectly glorified by the papers, their presence on the front page is enough to send a message to the youths of the nation that they still exist and give them something to aspire to. The area leaders also thrive on the publicity and notoriety they gain when they are highlighted in our nation's papers.
The Gleaner highlighted the 21-year-old who received his Rhodes Scholar recently, that is the front page article that has a positive impact on the nation.
With the removal of the violence highlighted on the front pages, you may choose to put forth news that will stimulate public discussions, including the banana crisis, or raise issues that highlight the actions of our politicians and make them accountable to our people.
I am, etc.,
CONCERNED JAMAICAN
Less gory details
THE EDITOR, Sir:
I commend your move regarding the movement of violent crime reporting from the front page. While it is important to highlight criminal accounts, I do think that less should be done to minimize the impact it has on our society. The front page sets the tone of what is to come. Seeing last night's or the previous day's killing(s) certainly kills one's day and the hope of ever returning from far lands. While you are in no way underscoring the severity of Jamaica's problem with crime, I think more good will be served if we minimize the gory details and inform on a need to know basis. Criminals, I agree, get to far too much free publicity which acts as a source of unintended empowerment. What we need to see are their faces and not so much the accounts of their acts which should be closely positioned to the front page on a constant basis (if pictures are available from the police) so that Jamaica will be better able to assist the police in identifying these creatures who terrorize it.
I am etc.,
NATLEE HALL
