You are hereMedia Watchdog
Media Watchdog
GIBSON'S LAW
Law is a delicate institution and nowhere else than on St. Maarten can its interpretation be subject to scrutiny and sometimes frivolous scandal. Step forward Mister Richard Gibson who is widely rumored to have boxed off his second wife by building a complete dividing wall that runs through the middle of his luxurious Maho house.
The incidence of physical and thus media exposure of the celebrity variety is an increasing phenomenon on the island. Allegations that Julian Rollocks was parading in his underpants in October last year have been followed up with front page titillation via Mister Gibson’s own newspaper that the DP secretary is “broke” and has “serious issues with spelling and grammar”. For Mister G, as he is affectionately known, the boot is now clearly on the other foot!
Times change - DH Editorial
A study that shows people are increasingly using the Internet to plan and book their travels can be called good news for St. Maarten. After all, most of the emergency marketing funds made available in connection with the impact of the global crisis by diverting means from the Social Economic Initiative (SEI) programme financed by the Dutch Government were directed towards online wholesalers such as Expedia.com and Travelocity.com rather than more traditional promotion avenues. [More....]
St. Maarten wows Brazilian journalists and travel agents-- Group from Latin American market enamored with island’s beauty and variety.
SMNN -
Great Bay: -- They left the sounds of samba and tango in Sao Paolo and Buenos Aires, respectively, as they came to The Friendly Island for a weeklong stay, uncertain of what rhythms they may have to dance to. The eight (8) Brazilian and three (3) Argentinean journalists who were hosted by the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau during a CVC press trip quickly fell in love with the multiple rhythms that set the island aside as one of the most exciting destinations they have ever been to. Following an Island tour the day after their arrival, the group that also included a dozen high-performing travel agents from Brazil, got to see and taste what makes St. Maarten special.[More....]
The other legacy of José Lake, Sr. that turned 50 in 2009
PHILIPSBURG - The 84th birthday anniversary of the late St. Martin patriot Joseph H. Lake, Sr. (1925-1976) better known as José Lake, might have been remembered quietly by a few family members and friends on October 4, 2009. But another legacy of the man known as the father of journalism for the whole island and “dean of the political opposition” in the South from 1959 to 1976, reached another anniversary milestone in 2009, some 33 years after his death.[More....]
50 CENTS FOR THE DAILY HERALD?
Where is the Daily Herald these days? Their editorial standards have reached new lows, their Weekender is mostly a solid ragbag of text that has been copied and pasted from the internet, their letter page now comprises almost entirely of US based correspondence (Oppenheimer, Krauthammer et al.) and their local news reporting is often too late and wildly inaccurate. It has become a handout. At 50 cents, the paper is not worth the paper upon which it is printed.
Heraldic History may well reveal answers for the descent into this quality quagmire. The medium was set up as a fighting tabloid by Roger Snow when island news was controlled by the establishment and Snow thought very differently about all that. Snow succeeded in changing the media landscape and the status quo. Fast forward many years and enter Courtney Gibson whose sensitivities are clearly pro-establishment and whose reaction to editorial criticism borders on the neurotic.
O LYDIA, LYDIA MY ENCYCLOPEDIA...
The island’s promotional activities have taken a turn for the worst. Frans Richardson who does not have a clue about the travel business other than how air miles work, is having a public tiff with Interreps. Media watchers will remember that this company was hired by Roy the Boy Marlin to "PR" things in The Benelux. However, the company’s feeble efforts have not impressed Richardson. Furthermore, Lydia Haveman, the company’s owner is so desperate that she is talking openly to the local press about her desire to continue writing invoices and lunching on the taxpayers behalf.
Talking openly to the press about her disappointment? Wait a moment! I thought she should be talking to the press about the island’s USP’s. Point is she knows she is on to a lost cause. If she had developed an editorial program that generated enough column inches to justify her fees, she would not be facing the wrath of Roy’s namesake who probably has another relative in mind to do exactly the same as Interreps. Nothing, that is.
Journalist Alex Holder released
SXM Island Times - PHILIPSBURG - A reporter with the Today News Paper, Alex Holder who was recently arrested and charged with embezzlement, is now a free man.
The young journalist issued a press release on Tuesday giving an account of the legal proceedings against him and his eventual release from custody on the 16th of November.
Newsman Released on Conditional Dismal---Must Repay Victim by January 1, 2010.
SMNN - Philipsburg: --- The public prosecutor has released Alex Holder, the reporter who was arrested over a week ago on theft charges. Holder was released late on Monday afternoon after spending about ten days in the Philipsburg holding cells.
Prosecutor Rienk Mud said Holder was given a conditional dismissal since he is a first time offender. Mud said the suspect must repay the victim by January 1 2010 if not he would have to face prosecution. Holder was must also do 100 hours of community service Mud said.
JOBS FOR THE BOYS...
The front page announcement in the Herald this week that the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau continues to move full speed ahead by hiring Louis Peters to head up its New York Office will provide endless amusement to media watchers on the island. The Herald well known for its faithful duplication of press announcements has clearly neither massaged a word nor questioned why this public appointment was handled so privately?
To those who work in the media, St. Maarten has long been a joke when it comes to promoting its identity. Today, millions of dollars are now chasing an off-island PR bureau. Once hired this supposedly fast track agency was so competent that they even hired a third party to carry out branding activities. So far the only serious writing that has seen the light of day is that of endless invoices and prolific expense declarations. The advisers are advising the advisers.
Today Newspaper Editor on Theft Charges --- To Appear before Judge of Instruction—pre-trial detention extended.
SMNN - Philipsburg: --- The Editor of the Today Newspaper Alex Holder is now in police custody, he appeared before the judge of instruction on Monday afternoon and was given an eight days extension in pretrial detention. SMN News learnt that Holder was arrested over the weekend after his girlfriend filed a complaint with the police.
Prosecutor Rienk Mud confirmed the arrest of A.H whom he said would appear in court sometime during the afternoon on Monday. Mud said the suspect has been charged with theft. No other details on the case have been released.
