Lambert Brown

Last Sunday, the front page of The Gleaner carried a very interesting article about a Pastor Samuels in Montego Bay who came face to face with a gunman. Pastor Samuels was successful in negotiating for the preservation of his own life while transforming the potential killer into a contrite and worthwhile member of our society. The article went on to reveal the praiseworthy work being done by members of Samuels's church to transform the lives of young men in sections of crime-torn MoBay. There were a few letters to the press praising the effort of Pastor Samuels. The rest of the media effectively ignored this positive story. I doubt there was even one interview with Samuels by the electronic media.

Two Sundays ago, The Gleaner also carried on its front page a story about the confession of an unnamed policeman. Think for a moment how the media ran with that story. Radio and television were tripping over each other to interview anyone who would talk about or against corruption in the police force. This was red meat - the lion saw food in the land of negativity.

That there is corruption in the police force is true; that we need to rid ourselves of the corruption is also true; that corruption isn't new is also true. True also is the bravery and excellent work being done by some of our churches, service clubs and other organisations and individuals to transform the lives of many in our society. Regrettably for much of the media, this truth is like a clump of dry bones - to be overlooked, avoided and ignored.

I suggest that if we are fed a daily diet of negativity, our ways are likely to be heavily influenced by such negativity unless we make a conscious effort to think and act in a positive manner. The contrast of the media treatment of the last two Sunday Gleaner stories, once again brought out to me how sections of our media prefer the sensationalism of negative stories rather than the enlightenment that positive stories bring to our people. I am, therefore, not surprised at the ease with which our people adopt the negative behaviour patterns - to the detriment of the society.

Shapers of Opinions

One of the major shapers of opinions in our society is the media. We rightly give it special place with guaranteed freedom in our Constitution. The media, however, shape our opinions of the world by the stories they choose to report, feature, not carry at all or if carried, the interpretation they want us to arrive at.

Take for example the reopening of schools for the Easter term. Truth is that there are about 1,000 schools in Jamaica. Fewer than 10 schools were reported by the media as having problems on reopening, yet we never heard the positive that over 990 schools were reopened problem free. That there were problems in less than 0.01 per cent of schools is true; so too is the successful reopening in over 99 per cent of schools.

Balance demands highlighting both truths, rather than promoting only the imperfections of an otherwise flawless reopening of school. Where were the images of our bright students studiously absorbing the instructions of our brilliant teachers - teachers who despite the inadequacies of pay and other material comfort continue to produce educational miracles by bringing out the innate potential of our children for success?

I guess as a trade unionist I should be aware that placard-waving protesters jumping in front of the cameras makes better news stories. After all, it is very contagious and the next episode for the journalist captivated by the negative will be just around the corner.

Let me share with you just another example. The recent fire at the Riverton City landfill adversely affected thousands of citizens in sections of Kingston and Portmore who had to endure numerous bouts of smoke inhalation. The authorities kept promising that the problem would be solved quickly. As long as the people were suffering, the newsrooms had a ready-made story. Finally, the Government decided to mobilise the services of several fire-fighting units from across Kingston to make a concentrated effort to extinguish the fire and relieve the suffering of the citizens. Thankfully, this worked. The citizens at long last got some relief, though some have suffered long-term illness as a result of the smoke.

At least one set of journalists carried as the lead in their news that some fire stations across Kingston were deprived of their fire units. No lie by the journalist here. Another truth, however, was that no fire scene elsewhere was neglected because of the prudent effort to concentrate the resources of the fire brigade to overcome a major public nuisance. Oops! This truth somehow escaped the media.

Ineptitude And Weakening

I am not here trying to blame the media for the ineptitude of some government agencies. I am simply recognising that in a context of negativity, what happens is a strengthening of ineptitude and a weakening of the will to be bold, creative and successful.

Maybe I am too comfortable and therefore too easily enthralled by an approach to life that accentuates the positive; maybe those of the dancehall artistes, who wittingly or unwittingly promote the negativity through their gun lyrics, and vulgarity, are correct. They, like the media, are just reflecting what takes place in society. People live what they learn and it matters not whether the teacher be journalist, trade unionist, DJ, or politician.

If negativity is what we sow in this land, then negativity is what will surely rule the land. We all need to check ourselves and recognise that wittingly or unwittingly, our promotion of negativity has been a major contributor to the state of our society. Let's promote positive thinking and watch hope and success triumphs in our people.

Lambert Brown is president of the University and Allied Workers' Union and may be contacted at labpoyh@yahoo.com