St. Maarten Private Eye

SXM PE Weekly Update - 15th October 2006

A look back over the last week, this time with a little difference. In an effort to get a better picture and understanding of the news and reporting of our two local newspapers we have prepared a simple study on both. Check them out and then join me below for a discussion.
Readers Poll below too

A study of The Today - 9 - 14 October 2006
A study of The Daily Herald - 9 - 14 October 2006

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What we have done is scanned and posted just about all articles that are local and as a result you can clearly see that the vast majority of items in both newspapers falls into the catagory of 'Filler'.

What is 'Filler'? Well, other than a brand of snacks, it is also the term for articles used to fill space in a publication on a slow news day. You see it in both papers, the same story rehashed a few days later, or stories about clubs and foundations holding meetings and giving out awards. You can see it in articles written by companies to promote new sevices, goods or donations, all of which is really free advertising.

It is sickening, take for example the articles that appeared in both newspapers with the headline First Caribbean continues to give back to the community, they are the same and were written by the bank. Next time they may as well say The sun shines out of First Caribbean's ass. The same can be said of the lottery article and everytime a bank or telephone company releases yet another new card. This is not news.

It is not a secret that most organisations and foundations on the island will write their own articles and send them in, this is because so many of them have learned that you don't rely on either of them to get the story straight or tell it all. It is a fairly common practice. However, when businesses start writing articles for self promotion with reporters just making small changes so it's not exactly the same as the other paper, then we have to seriously question the integrity of our press.

To be honest, after preparing those pages (thanks to the helpers) I am feeling pretty drained and my mind is going numb. Is it any surprise people pay such little attention to the big issues that face the island when they get this kind of coverage. Investigative reporting, do they even know what it means or are they so scared of rocking the boat that they think they can survive on drivel?

There is no doubt in my mind that the island needs a new newspaper. It's not the reporters fault because there are some good ones, but both papers are failing the people and the island by their pandering to the political and business interests over the common good.

If anyone has about $75,000 to spare then we can come up with a good business plan. Anyone?

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Does St. Maarten need a new newspaper?

Flipper

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