Media Analysis Youth Crime & Trafficking In Persons MIC UNDP

A Media Analysis of the Coverage of Youth Involvement in Crime and Violence and Trafficking in Persons (June 2021 to June 2023) in the Eastern Caribbean

This report was produced by the Media Institute of the Caribbean for the UNDP as part of the CariSecure 2.0 initiative by USAID. The Lead Researchers were Kiran Maharaj and Brian Schmidt. The Research team included journalists and data gatherers across the Eastern Caribbean. www.mediainstituteofthecaribbean.com CariSECURE 2.0 is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government .

Table of Contents ACRONYMS ............................................................................................................................................................. II

1 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ..................................................................................................................................... 1

2 INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND .......................................................................................................2

3 METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................................................................5 3.1 Overall Findings................................................................................................................................................9

4 MEDIA ECOSYSTEM OVERVIEW ................................................................................................................ 12

5 YOUTH INVOLVEMENT IN CRIME ............................................................................................................. 25 5.1 Objective and Scope..................................................................................................................................26 5.2 Analysis.........................................................................................................................................................26 5.3 Key Findings...................................................................................................................................................38 5.4 Recommendations.......................................................................................................................................47 5.5 Conclusion....................................................................................................................................................49 6 TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS ......................................................................................................................... 51 6.1 Objective and Scope...................................................................................................................................52 6.2 Analysis...........................................................................................................................................................52 6.3 Key Findings....................................................................................................................................................61 6.4. Recommendations.....................................................................................................................................84 6.5 Conclusion....................................................................................................................................................85 APPENDICES . .......................................................................................................................................................87 APPENDIX 1...........................................................................................................................................................88 APPENDIX 2..........................................................................................................................................................98 APPENDIX 3.........................................................................................................................................................105 APPENDIX 4.........................................................................................................................................................106 APPENDIX 5.........................................................................................................................................................108 APPENDIX 6..........................................................................................................................................................110 APPENDIX 7..........................................................................................................................................................119

A Media Analysis of the Coverage of Youth Involvement in Crime and Violence and Trafficking in Persons (June 2021 to June 2023) in the Eastern Caribbean i

ACRONYMS ACM Association of Caribbean Media Workers CariSECURE 2.0

Strengthening Evidence-Based Decision-Making for Citizen Security in the Caribbean

CATT

Children’s Authority of Trinidad and Tobago

CBO

Community Based Organization

CS2.0

CariSECURE 2.0

CSOs

Civil Society Organizations

CTIP

Counter Trafficking in Persons

CTU

Counter Trafficking Unit

CPU

Child Protection Unit

HERCTIP

Heal Empower Rise Counter Trafficking in Persons

GOTT

Government of Trinidad and Tobago

Immigration Division

IGOs

Inter-Governmental Organizations

IOM

International Organization for Migration

MIC

Media Institute of the Caribbean

MoNS

Ministry of National Security

NGOs

Non-Governmental Organizations

RBPF

The Royal Barbados Police Force

RGPF

The Royal Grenada Police Force

TIP

Trafficking in Persons

TTPS

Trinidad and Tobago Police Service

United Nations

UNDP

United Nations Development Programme

UNODC

United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

USAID

US Agency for International Development

VWSU

Victims and Witness Support Unit

ii A Media Analysis of the Coverage of Youth in Crime and Violence And Trafficking in Persons (TIP) for the Period June 2021 to June 2023

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The role of media in covering stories of trafficking in persons and youth involvement in crime and violence is multifaceted and crucial as media coverage can bring attention to the issues of trafficking in persons (TIP) and youth involvement in crime and violence, making the public more aware of the solutions, prevalence, causes and consequences of these social issues. Through various media channels such as news articles, documentaries, and investigative reports, the media can shed light on the complexities of these issues and their impact on individuals and communities. By leveraging their platforms and resources effectively, media outlets can contribute to efforts to prevent exploitation, protect vulnerable populations, and promote justice and accountability. Conducting a media analysis of journalistic work on the topics of youth involvement in crime and trafficking in persons (TIP) will allow for insights in prevalent narratives, framing, and language used by journalists and media outlets, which in turn shapes public perception and discourse on these thematic areas. By analyzing the journalistic pieces, researchers can identify patterns and trends in media coverage, including how these issues are contextualized, what the recurring themes or stereotypes are, and what biases, if any, exist. Media analysis can provide evidence to support calls for more nuanced or comprehensive coverage of these issues, or to address any misrepresentations or harmful stereotypes perpetuated by the media thereby influencing policy and advocacy. By examining the coverage of these issues, journalists can identify areas for improvement in their reporting practices, such as ensuring accuracy, avoiding sensationalism, and providing more diverse and inclusive perspectives. Overall, media analysis of journalistic work on human trafficking and youth involvement in crime and violence serves as a valuable tool for understanding, critiquing, and ultimately improving both media representation and public discourse on these social issues.

A Media Analysis of the Coverage of Youth in Crime and Violence And Trafficking in Persons (TIP) for the Period June 2021 to June 2023 1

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

2 A Media Analysis of the Coverage of Youth Involvement in Crime and Violence and Trafficking in Persons (June 2021 to June 2023) in the Eastern Caribbean A Media Analysis of the Coverage of Youth in Crime and Violence And Trafficking in Persons (TIP) for the Period June 2021 to June 2023

METHODOLOGY |

Crime and violence amongst youth (15-29 years) is one of the key bottlenecks to development in the Caribbean. 1 While there is a dearth of timely, disaggregated and comprehensive youth crime data, some existing information suggests that youth are both the greatest perpetrators and victims of violent crimes in the region (ibid). Economic challenges, including a rigid and inflexible labour market, have contributed to a cycle in which young people struggling with the lack of economic opportunities turn to illegal activities and crime. Prolonged social protection challenges result in increases in youth crime, violence, and victimization further down the line. 2 Gender also appears to be a critical factor; while males appear to be both the majority of victims and perpetrators of violent crimes, females are much more likely to be victims than they are to be perpetrators. In addition to the chronic problem of youth crime and violence, trafficking in persons (TIP) appears to be becoming more prevalent in the Caribbean, most recently linked to the crisis of forced migration from Venezuela. While the paucity of crime data is also present regarding human trafficking, anecdotal evidence suggests that youth are among the most impacted by these crimes. 3 Survey analysis 4 of Trafficking in Persons (TIP) also points to cross-country differences based on idiosyncratic push and pull factors that vary between countries. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these underlying issues: preliminary findings from a recent global report 5 suggest that trafficking has been pushed further underground, creating a more insidious threat to potential victims and to countries’ achievement of their SDG targets. The CariSECURE 2.0 project responds to the citizen security issues of youth crime and violence, and TIP by employing a multi-pronged, human rights-based approach designed to improve national capacities for crime reduction, building upon the data gathering and analytical capacities provided to national police forces under the CariSECURE 1.0 project. The project will take a targeted approach, working with key countries in the region according to the specific needs and capacities identified during the implementation of CariSECURE 1.0. Specifically, the project will work at the regional, national, and community levels in Barbados, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada to respond to and reduce youth involvement in crime and violence by continuing to build national capacities for evidence-based decision-making among stakeholders in the youth sector. The project will also develop and implement Trafficking in Persons reduction initiatives while bolstering state capacity to facilitate timely and effective prosecution, with an initial focus on Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, St Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago. An innovative approach to the design of evidence-based, sensitive and human-rights-based policies on

1 Crime and Youth Unemployment in the Caribbean, Wong, J and Ramakrishnan, IMF, 2017 2 The Challenges of Protecting Youth From Crime and Violence in a Pandemic, UNODC, 2021 3 United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner, Combating child sex tourism. 2013 4 Exploratory Assessment of Trafficking in Persons in the Caribbean Region, IOM, 2010 5 The Effects of the COVID19 Pandemic on Trafficking in Persons and Responses to the Challenges, UNODC, 2021

A Media Analysis of the Coverage of Youth Involvement in Crime and Violence and Trafficking in Persons (June 2021 to June 2023) in the Eastern Caribbean 3

| INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

youth involvement in crime and violence and TIP, will be to recognize the unique role of the media within the context of Caribbean societies. Media reports can generate meaningful real time data about the multiple potential effects of crime and violence on any particular vulnerable group. Furthermore, social media has strong potential to mobilize people, particularly young people, to reflect on issues, build consensus and to take collective action. Media outlets can bring critical attention to the issues of human trafficking and youth involvement in crime, by reporting on specific cases, trends, and the broader societal impact, the media can educate the public on issues, the legal frameworks in place to combat these issues, and the ways in which individuals and communities can get help and help to prevent the issues. Regular media coverage of how authorities are handling cases of human trafficking and youth involvement in crime serves as a public form of accountability. It ensures that law enforcement, government bodies, and NGOs remain vigilant in their efforts to combat these issues, via its groundbreaking reports based on research, evidence and facts, the media is foundational. One of the key challenges faced in the Caribbean is that often the model of journalism reflects existing policy responses to the problems of crime and violence and other citizen security-related issues based on press releases, partial information, stereotypes, quick fixes. Any effort to shift course in this field requires engaging the journalism industry at the levels of media ownership, editorial boards and individual journalists. The project therefore will encourage the countries news outlets and journalists to cover issues related to youth involvement in crime and violence and TIP from a sensitive and human rights-based perspective and build their capacity to do so in an informed, balanced, objctive and insightful manner. It will also highlight the important role played by both mainstream and social media in raising awareness of issues related to crime and violence and challenge social media practitioners to design innovative techniques for social mobilization to enhance citizen security. Countries for Media Review are: 1. Antigua and Barbuda

2. Barbados 3. Grenada 4. St. Lucia 5. St. Vincent & the Grenadines 6. Trinidad and Tobago

4 A Media Analysis of the Coverage of Youth Involvement in Crime and Violence and Trafficking in Persons (June 2021 to June 2023) in the Eastern Caribbean

METHODOLOGY

A Media Analysis of the Coverage of Youth Involvement in Crime and Violence and Trafficking in Persons (June 2021 to June 2023) in the Eastern Caribbean 5 A Media Analysis of the Coverage of Youth in Crime and Violence And Trafficking in Persons (TIP) for the Period June 2021 to June 2023

| METHODOLOGY

Media Story Collection A team of eleven in-country researchers and data gatherers were deployed in each of the six countries in this study. They searched media archives at media houses as well as online, to obtain as many copies of articles and broadcasts (i.e. newspapers, television, radio and digital online) as possible for the period of June 2021 to June 2023. This included radio, television, newspapers and digital 6 . Two lead analysts then reviewed eight hundred and fifteen (815) news pieces on TIP (310 news stories) and Youth in Crime (415), analyzed the trends and story angles to determine the extent of the coverage, the type of reporting, the format of the stories, and the variety of sources used related to the topics.

AMOUNT ONLINE/DIGITAL (Newspapers are also online)

NUMBER OF STORIES

AMOUNT ON NEWSPAPER

AMOUNT ON TV

AMOUNT ON RADIO

COUNTRY

Antigua

Barbados Grenada St. Lucia

310

254

0 5

0 0

St. Vincent and the Grenadines Trinidad and Tobago

107

319` 489 Table 1 – The table above shows the number of news reports analysed from each of the countries in the report 489 94 2

In the analysis, Digital and Online is a combination of digital stories republished from newspapers as well as unique stories published on online platforms inclusive of Facebook and digital news sites. There was some duplication but this must be accounted for in order to review how the stories are amplified (i.e were they edited for online publication), the potential audience reach and the public sentiment (i.e. as with social media publication). The analysis of these media stories would effectively allow for an examination of the effectiveness and impact the role of the media is fulfilling. Media is seen as a vital tool for education, advocacy, policy development, and fostering public engagement. In understanding how TIP and Youth in Crime and Violence are represented in the public sphere and how these representations are shaped, a determination can be made for areas of improvement, while also citing stories which are effective.

6 Digital is defined as online inclusive of media websites, social media, online websites.

6 A Media Analysis of the Coverage of Youth Involvement in Crime and Violence and Trafficking in Persons (June 2021 to June 2023) in the Eastern Caribbean

METHODOLOGY |

A snapshot of the number of the data obtained is represented below and illustrates that Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago yielded the most stories analyzed

COUNTRY

NUMBER OF STORIES

RESEARCH AREA

Antigua

39 44

Trafficking in Persons Reports Trafficking in Persons Reports

Barbados Barbados Grenada St. Lucia

266

Youth Involvement in Crime and Violence Youth Involvement in Crime and Violence

Trafficking in Persons Reports

St. Vincent and the Grenadines

107 319

Youth Involvement in Crime and Violence

Trinidad and Tobago

Trafficking in Persons Reports

Table 2 – Number of stories from each country analysed for this report.

An examination of other sources of information gathered from interviews and one-on-one interactions was also done as it relates to Youth in Crime and Violence and Trafficking in Persons (TIP). Many of these available sources of information stemmed from government agencies or stakeholders who were supporting efforts to mitigate the issues. The main stakeholder was USAID. A media monitoring subscription service with a news database was accessible for Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados which allowed for much better data collection and in-depth analysis of the key themes. Trinidad and Tobago had the most coverage on TIP but this may be due to the size of its media market and the number of media houses which far surpasses those of the other countries in this report. This is further explained in the media ecosystem overview.

A Media Analysis of the Coverage of Youth Involvement in Crime and Violence and Trafficking in Persons (June 2021 to June 2023) in the Eastern Caribbean 7

| METHODOLOGY

Desk Research The Media Institute of the Caribbean developed a library of available information and reference material on Youth in Crime and Violence and Trafficking in Persons (TIP) based on other research within the region which date as far back as 2013. These are detailed in the bibliography. It was evident that the issues of Youth in Crime and Violence and Trafficking in Persons (TIP) have been on governments’ agenda 7 as matters which require attention but there seems to be a lack of a systematic approach involving all stakeholders, where effective implementation has been devised. This research shows a gap with non-governmental and civil society organizations where data is not captured and the evaluation of initiatives is not recorded. Data and information from these entities who work in the communities to alleviate the risk and circumstances related to youth involved in crime and victims of human trafficking could be insightful and instructive. In the case of Trinidad and Tobago, the NGO / CSO landscape is far more developed than the other countries in this report as there are many more of these organizations and several of them are properly structured with clearly defined mission statements, governance procedures and human resource allocation. Interviews Expert interviews were done with thirty-six (36) individuals representing journalists, members of law enforcement, members of civil society and academics. These stakeholder groups could offer insight and other information related to TIP and youth involvement in crime. The interviews were designed to gain a better understanding of the environment to ensure the media analysis would be done within an accurate context. Members of law enforcement, civil society organizations and academia who are intricately familiar with localized matters of youth involvement in crime and violence and human trafficking, would be able to tell if the media’s coverage of these issues are accurate, fair, responsible and sufficiently informs the public. The key findings from the interviews were recorded under key thematic areas of this report. This will allow for improved media training where these obstacles can be highlighted alongside recommendations to produce stories as solutions journalism narratives.

STAKEHOLDER GROUP

NUMBER OF INTERVIEWS

Journalists

Media Managers

Members of Law Enforcement

Experts / Academia

Members of Civil Society

3 Table 3 – Stakeholders interviewed for this report

7 CARICOM Crime and Security Strategy 2013, Securing the Region

8 A Media Analysis of the Coverage of Youth Involvement in Crime and Violence and Trafficking in Persons (June 2021 to June 2023) in the Eastern Caribbean

METHODOLOGY |

Surveys Based on a survey done with journalists by the Media Institute of the Caribbean for the period 2021 to 2023 the regions suffers from a severe lack of data. To help ensure that the hypotheses developing out of the analysis were accurate, we employed two online surveys as a random dipstick 8 method to gauge public sentiment on 1. How they consume media which would support the media and information ecosystem assessment

which is further detailed in this report 2. Citizen security and their level of trust

These were promoted via the team of researchers’ WhatsApp groups as well as the online platforms for the Media Institute of the Caribbean and UNDP Eastern Caribbean. (Appendix 1) 3.1 Overall Findings Lack of Depth and Analysis Many of the gathered news stories under both thematic areas, were mainly basic reports and did not contain any level of investigative reporting. Investigative reporting can lead to the revealing of important information and can have significant social impact. It includes in-depth research, uncovering new information that has not been previously reported to bring new insights into an issue, using advance techniques such as computer- assisted reporting, and detailed fact-checking that is well-supported by evidence before publication.

Based on the stories examined, they were mainly based on police reports, press releases and public statements from authorities. Overall, there was a lack of investigative reporting.

The exceptions were mostly from Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) where there were attempts to explore the TIP story perspectives as human interest to show the emotional and social aspects of the scenarios covered. Human interest stories focus on the personal and emotional aspects of the human experience, distinguishing them from more straightforward news reporting. These stories aim to connect with the audience on a personal level, often evoking empathy, sympathy, or motivation. There was increased sensitivity relating to the Venezuelan migrant stories. Newsrooms are larger in Trinidad and Tobago with a minimum of five reporters as compared to the other countries in this report who have four or less reporters. The number of journalists in a newsroom significantly influences several aspects of news production including the depth and breadth of coverage; the quality of journalism; the response to breaking news; and the ability to undertake investigative and human-interest stories which require more time and production resources. Larger newsrooms are also better able to have specialization.

8 A dipstick study is a ‘one-time’ exercise undertaken to answer a specific question. The opposite to a dipstick study is a tracking study where data is being collected on a routine basis such as daily, weekly, monthly or annually.

A Media Analysis of the Coverage of Youth Involvement in Crime and Violence and Trafficking in Persons (June 2021 to June 2023) in the Eastern Caribbean 9

| METHODOLOGY

These newsrooms also have slightly better resources than the smaller newsrooms. These resources include recording and editing equipment and software. A news story requires dedicated staff and time so with more journalists in a newsroom there can be wider coverage as opposed to a smaller newsroom where stories must be prioritized. For example, a report from parliament on the adoption of legislation would take precedence over a story about a victim of human trafficking. This was a sentiment expressed by a media manager. Lack of Training Of the twenty-one journalists interviewed, none of them received any formal guidance or specialized training on how to report on the themes. There was a lack of investigative reporting techniques and knowledge to uncover the significant facts to create powerful narratives. Based on the focus groups, feedback indicated that some newsrooms also have no editorial policy or guideline for reporting on TIP. Based on interviews with journalists, there is no sensitivity training towards the issues of TIP or youth involvement in crime and violence. This lack of understanding and knowledge stymies the potential for reporting on various perspectives which can have a positive impact on the public’s awareness of TIP. More impactful stories which better represent the facts can also influence policymakers and by extension more effective policy changes can be implemented. Resource Restrictions Based on media viability research 9 In addition to interviews done for this report, most of the countries have small newsrooms that are floundering under the economic pressure of a post-pandemic environment. Their ability to dedicate the time to telling the stories from more sensitive angles or to assign specific journalists to do so, is not achievable. This is why stories are regurgitations of press releases. Free and independent media are facing intense viability challenges. Six senior level media executives were interviewed and shared a similar opinion that where there is state-owned media, the trend is that reporting predominantly focuses on the presentation of government’s perspectives without questioning related policies, procedures or practices. State-owned media exists in all countries researched for this report. Lack of Data Data on the media and statistics on crime are not easily available or accessible in any of the countries. There is no open-source data. Where data is available from social services, or government agencies, getting approval to release this information can take months. The research team had that experience when compiling information for this report. This can be very off-putting for journalists as expressed by them while compiling this report and the delay in time means that the story elements may change and become outdated and redundant as some stories are time sensitive.

9 UNESCO Media Viability Indicators Research Study, 2022 by Media Institute of the Caribbean

10 A Media Analysis of the Coverage of Youth Involvement in Crime and Violence and Trafficking in Persons (June 2021 to June 2023) in the Eastern Caribbean

METHODOLOGY |

Lack of Policy to Obtain Information There is a lack of Freedom of Information and Access to Information legislation and where this does exist, there seems to be a lack of proper procedure with how responses are dealt with and many FOI /ATI requests are delayed. This complicates the process of getting information. It also requires additional resources of time, personnel and finances, as applying for information becomes entangled in a bureaucratic web.

COUNTRY

FOI / ATI LEGISLATION

Antigua and Barbuda

Yes

Barbados

Grenada

Saint Lucia

Saint Vincent & the Grenadines

Yes

Trinidad & Tobago Yes Table 4 – Countries in this report that have Freedom of Information Legislation

Lack of Collaboration with CSOs and NGOs Based on the interviews conducted for this report, These entities were not seen as a provider of information by the media as the media is unaware of their existence and of the many initiatives they have implemented. If such entities were mentioned at all, it was only done based on an initiative involving government or diplomatic support. Representatives of the civil society organizations (CSO’s) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) who were interviewed, expressed the sentiment that there are projects and programs which hunger for the support of the government and private sector, and many do not gain the media’s attention. Willingness to Learn Interviews with journalists indicated that they are open to understanding how they can develop their skill to produce better stories and this came from some of them who admitted that these areas do have potential for fresh perspectives but they have not focused their time and effort as such is not mandated by their editors. Editors interviewed for this study said they would welcome training on the topic as they saw that it would be beneficial to journalists. Networking There is potential to develop a group or community which allows for feedback and interaction on these issues. Such a group would involve all stakeholders and could facilitate cross-border collaboration. The development of a database of contacts who are references can also allow for expedited input into the stories and is worth considering.

A Media Analysis of the Coverage of Youth Involvement in Crime and Violence and Trafficking in Persons (June 2021 to June 2023) in the Eastern Caribbean 11

MEDIA ECOSYSTEM OVERVIEW

12 A Media Analysis of the Coverage of Youth Involvement in Crime and Violence and Trafficking in Persons (June 2021 to June 2023) in the Eastern Caribbean A Media Analysis of the Coverage of Youth in Crime and Violence And Trafficking in Persons (TIP) for the Period June 2021 to June 2023

MEDIA SYSTEM OVERVIEW |

A comprehensive understanding of the media environment allows for a more relevant analysis of the research as it will explain how media is consumed and what the engagement levels are across media platforms, In turn, there would be a better understanding of which stories need to be shared where and what the best structure might be . This ecosystem overview employed two assessment models: 1. Internews Information Ecosystem Assessment (IEA) Model 2. Media and Information Mapping Media for Democracy Assessment Tool Understanding the Information Ecosystem Assessment (IEA) Model A comprehensive understanding of the media and information ecosystem allows us to gain a comprehensive understanding of the coverage of the issues of the portrayal of youth involvement in crime as well as the treatment of stories on Trafficking in Persons (TIP) and the involvement of youth in crime and violence by the media. This is important because how the stories are distributed via various platforms means that the form and structure of the stories would have to be different for them to have impact and gain the attention of audiences. According to Internews: The goal of an Information Ecosystem Assessment (IEA) is to gain a deeper understanding of how people find, share, value, and trust information in their own local contexts, whether it comes from the media or not. IEAs map both sides of the relationship between information supply and demand in an information ecosystem through a multi-phase approach. IEAs can be leveraged to design adaptive programming that is consistently informed by community input and feedback throughout the project life cycle. As a central feature of project design, the IEA enables the establishment of dynamic community information feedback loops between beneficiaries, infomediaries and service providers. These feedback loops in turn provide qualitative, evolving insights into the drivers of stigma, discrimination, and ingrained social norms, track and evaluate social and cultural factors that act as barriers to accessing and delivering quality services and provide real-time monitoring and evaluation of community engagement. The most practical and relevant Information Ecosystem Assessment Model has been developed by Internews who identifies eight (8) critical dimensions in their methodology: 1. Information needs – are the information needs of all groups being served?

2. Information landscape – what infrastructures are in place to support information production and flow?

3. Production and movement of information – who generates information and how does it move?

4. Dynamic of access – what are the power structures in the environment and how can they affect how the information flows?

5. Use of information – what do people do with the information they receive?

6. Impact of information – what impact does this information have on the community?

7. Social trust – whose information do individuals trust?

8. Influencers in the community – which voices are loudest or most influential?

A Media Analysis of the Coverage of Youth Involvement in Crime and Violence and Trafficking in Persons (June 2021 to June 2023) in the Eastern Caribbean 13

| MEDIA SYSTEM OVERVIEW

Information Ecosystem Graphic from Internews

Based on feedback from those interviewed, it was evident that the Media Sector in all countries examined for this study, are heavily influenced by politics. All countries also have at least one state / government entity that utilises its command of the media outlet to ensure its messaging is delivered. The researchers stated that there is very little or no presence of opposition parties or entities on state media. There are also no laws with regards to equality of airtime for political parties. Where such rules exist, it is imposed by private media houses and forms part of their operational policy. Trinidad and Tobago is the only country where interviewees stated that the presence of race impacted politics. The main political parties are perceived to be Afro-Trinbagonian (Afro descent of Trinidad and Tobago) and Indo-Trinidadian (Indo descent of Trinidad). The number of traditional media outlets (radio, television and newspapers) have been somewhat consistent over the past two decades. However, there has been an explosion in the number of online information sources. There are digital news outlets which have popped up and have become more accessible as internet penetration in the region has increased.

COUNTRY

PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE ONLINE

14 A Media Analysis of the Coverage of Youth Involvement in Crime and Violence and Trafficking in Persons (June 2021 to June 2023) in the Eastern Caribbean

MEDIA SYSTEM OVERVIEW |

Antigua and Barbuda

95.7% 85.8% 77.8% 78.1% 84.9%

Barbados Grenada Saint Lucia

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Trinidad & Tobago 79% Table 5 - Percentage of People Online in Each Country. Source: Statista, Feb 7 th , 2023

ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA 440km^2

BARBADOS GRENADA SAINT LUCIA ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Area

430km^2 348.5km^2 617km^2

389km^2

5,128km^2 1,367,558

Population

93,219 $15,781

287,371 $13,826

112,253 $9,051

182,790 $8,804

110,947 $7,297

GDP per capita

$14,876

Approximate Number of Media Workers

250

Media Houses Print

2 2

3 5

2 0

3 5

Television

2 2 2

Radio Online

2 3

Is there State-owned media (Yes/No)

Yes

Social Media Data: Internet Users Facebook Users Instagram Users

75.3K 54.6K

235.4K

66.9K 62.9K 45.8K

140.4K

88.1K 62.2K 47.2K

1.210K 754.7K

144K

90.1K 62.1K

37.1K

171.6K

631K

Table 6 - Snapshot of Media Landscape for the countries covered in this report 10

COUNTRY

MEDIA ASSOCIATION

Antigua and Barbuda

None exists

Barbados Grenada Saint Lucia

BARJAM - The Barbados Association of Journalists and Media Workers

MWAG - Media Workers Association of Grenada MASL - Media Association of Saint Lucia

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

None exists

MATT - Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago (Media Workers)/ TTPBA - Trinidad and Tobago Publishers and Broadcasters Association (Media Managers and Owners)

Trinidad & Tobago

Table 7 - List of Media Associations in each country reviewed in this report

There is one umbrella organization which spans the region: Association of Caribbean Media Workers.

10 Sources of Data include The State of Caribbean Media Report 2022 by the Association of Caribbean Media Workers; Data Portal Digital Data 2023 Insights

A Media Analysis of the Coverage of Youth Involvement in Crime and Violence and Trafficking in Persons (June 2021 to June 2023) in the Eastern Caribbean 15

The Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM) is a network of journalists, media workers and media associations spanning the Caribbean Basin. It was established in Barbados in 2001. Its membership includes media professionals and their representative associations from countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the French and Dutch-speaking Caribbean. The Media Institute of the Caribbean The Media Institute of the Caribbean is a non-profit organisation, resource and training facility for the Caribbean that provides media resources and training for journalists, communicators and leaders, to contribute to the regional democratic process by supporting an innovative and independent Media Industry; evaluates current Caribbean policies, strategies and initiatives, and suggests alternatives to regional media challenges, while working within the Caribbean region with journalists; adapts to the evolving industry to strengthen investigative techniques and leadership skills of its members; facilitates media incubators, innovators and entrepreneurs; and Produces and promotes stories on the region for global audiences. Caribbean Broadcast Union (CBU) is a not-for-profit association of public service and commercial broadcasters in the Caribbean, the majority of whose members are mainly state media entities. It facilitates discussion and analysis that assist in policy formulation on major integration issues. Media Development Funding These countries have not received extensive or sustainable support for media development as in the case of Jamaica for CARIMAC at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Kingston, Jamaica (which serves the Caribbean region) and Northern Caribbean University (NCU) in Manchester, Jamaica. This may also be because the size of the media fraternities is very small and there is a lack of physical infrastructure. The entity in the region which has been doing most of the journalistic training with active journalists and has about 300 journalists trained in intensive short courses or boot camps, is the Media Institute of the Caribbean (MIC). Most of MIC’s training has been done virtually due to restrictive budgets. Journalists typically do not specialise as newsrooms are small and resources are very restricted. Based on several interviews and interaction by the Media Institute of the Caribbean between 2012 and 2023, the feedback of over two hundred journalists indicates that there is self-censorship in the region. There is a lack of investigative reporting and follow up because of these two issues in particular which affect output. Newsrooms are hard-pressed to implement safety for journalists and do not have the revenue to allow for in-depth research and fact finding necessary for investigative reporting. There is only one investigative reporting media outfit, Caribbean Investigative Journalism Network 11 (www.cijn.org). The countries in this study have news outlets which have carried stories from this source which allows for the increased audience and better exposure of the stories.

Misinformation and Disinformation

11 The Caribbean Investigative Journalism Network ( www.cijn.org ) is a non-profit entity and the Caribbean region’s only independent investigative journalism media platform.

16 A Media Analysis of the Coverage of Youth Involvement in Crime and Violence and Trafficking in Persons (June 2021 to June 2023) in the Eastern Caribbean

In 2022, the Public Media Alliance (PMA) supported by UNESCO, commissioned a study as a situation report done by the Media Institute of the Caribbean (MIC) and the Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM) titled, “Media literacy, disinformation & misinformation in the Caribbean”. The following was noted: “The Caribbean has a vibrant and diverse media landscape, with rapidly developing digital services. However, mis- and disinformation have increased across the region, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, natural disasters, and crises, posing a threat to the regional media environment and to the lives and wellbeing of its citizens. Improved media and information literacy is a necessary and a pivotal way of tackling disinformation in society, along with trust in verified independent news and citizen engagement. Meanwhile, the potential for collaboration in the Caribbean media landscape remains relatively untapped. One solution is to create a strong Caribbean-wide network of affordable and accessible sources of verified news. The project explored the viability of cross-border collaboration for fact- checking initiatives that support media literacy and fight disinformation while improving the capacity of Caribbean media workers to promote media literacy and thwart disinformation. The project’s final objective was to contribute towards improved media and information literacy in the Caribbean by laying the foundation for more careful reporting, fact-checking, transparency regarding media ownership, and increased regional collaboration.” Watching the watchdogs : Several researchers noted that there are low barriers to entry into the media landscape. While, understandably, social media was a breeding ground for “citizen journalists” to share information with little to no qualifications, it was also pointed out that established media houses (print, television, radio, and online sites) similarly struggled with recruiting qualified media workers. In Grenada, for example, researcher Linda Straker explained that it is not uncommon for those entering media careers locally to do so immediately following graduation from secondary school. Luckily, she added, an Associate Degree in Media Studies is offered by a local community college and several newsroom staff at print media outlets have obtained this certification. But it becomes more difficult to find broadcasters or announcers who have pursued the associate degree level certification and, as a result, many announcers or DJs are untrained before entering their professions. Similarly in St Vincent & the Grenadines, researcher Colvin Harry found that on- air radio hosts serve as conduits for disinformation. Hence, with low barriers to entry, regulating formal media organisations was put forward by several researchers as a way to curb the impact of irresponsible journalism, lower disinformation and promote media literacy, and build trust in news. In their recommendations, researchers called for legislative changes, such as a review of the Newspapers Act to include online publications in Grenada. Recommended regulation was not limited to legislative changes. Some researchers also recommended improved regulation through media associations. For instance, Barbados researcher recommended the creation of a professional association that accredits journalists and disciplines “malpractice” by media workers. Meanwhile, in Grenada and St. Vincent & the Grenadines where there are no media workers’ associations there were calls for the establishment of such bodies.” Mapping the Information Ecosystem – the Internews Approach

A Media Analysis of the Coverage of Youth Involvement in Crime and Violence and Trafficking in Persons (June 2021 to June 2023) in the Eastern Caribbean 17

This is perhaps the most robust mapping tool and it has been used in the Caribbean region in 2022 to 2023 in the countries of Dominica, Barbados and Jamaica. MIC recommends this model be used do in-depth mapping studies. For the purpose of this report, we did a ‘lite’ version of the mapping based on the scope of work.

Human and Social Insights

18 A Media Analysis of the Coverage of Youth Involvement in Crime and Violence and Trafficking in Persons (June 2021 to June 2023) in the Eastern Caribbean

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Influencers These are the people, organizations and institutions that shape information flows.  Politicians  Radio & Television Talk Show Hosts, contributors to newspaper editorial  Activists  Online social commentators Social Trust Influence of trusted networks on the flow and use of information  Churches and other places of worship  Schools  NGOs Information Impact Relationship between information, knowledge and behaviour change  Traditional media  Social Media (TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat) • •

Content Distribution and Consumption

Information Needs  Information needs have changed and may continue to do so as technological advances and new communication applications are introduced.  The standard and level of acceptability is also changing where the new information ecosystem has multiple voices and modes of expression. Government messaging is not as impactful as it was fifty years ago as it was the dominant provider of information on matters of public interest. Now, bloggers, social media, WhatsApp etc., has filtered in and ease of accessibility to information plays a vital role. Production and Movement  The types of information available varies. Key sources of information based on the survey shows that the information ecosystems are all complex in that there is exposure and engagement with both legacy and new media. Yet the most trusted source of information is still legacy media. This proposes a dichotomy between the level of positive influence and the types of media to which the public is exposed. Information Use  How is information processed, used and applied. There is a tendency to forward information without fact checking. The use of videos or images attracts more attention which can be dangerous as these seem authentic but can be manipulated.

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 Among older and more mature audiences there is still trust in newspapers, radio and television news. Whereas younger audiences depend on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook. The common media source for all age groups is WhatsApp. Macro Environment

A Media Analysis of the Coverage of Youth Involvement in Crime and Violence and Trafficking in Persons (June 2021 to June 2023) in the Eastern Caribbean 19

• Information Landscape: The physical and institutional infrastructure that supports information production and flow .  All countries have state media. There is no public broadcasting model. State media has the advantage of resources as these are subsidized and ministries and agencies have a guaranteed outlet for their output.  Private media are plagued with media viability issues which includes decreased revenue streams and ever increasing competition from big tech companies like Google and Metta. In addition, there is a degree of self-censorship where there may be safety concerns and the threat of crippling legal action. In an economically challenging era, free and independent media is under the threat of downsizing or redesigning their business model where they may lose their independent voice.

• Dynamics of Access: The factors that influence access.  Technological

o Internet Penetration is at over 75% of populations in this study. o All countries have cable television and access to streaming devices such as Netflix, Amazon and Apple TV. Android boxes are also available.  Political o With state media present in all countries, government messaging is easily transmissible. o Lack of legislation and incentives to help ensure the viability of traditional media.  Economic o As many as 75% and above of the population use their phones to access streaming and data is affordable. This is why most radio and television stations are also online. o Broadcast networks and newspaper operations are cash intensive and revenue sources are dwindling. Dipstick Survey Due to a lack of data on media consumption habits, the Media Institute of the Caribbean (MIC) did a mobile random dipstick survey asking a few simple questions to gain some insight regarding which forms of media are most popular. With a randomly selected sample, researchers can compare media usage patterns across different demographic groups. This helps to identify trends, patterns, and differences in media consumption behaviors, which can inform media analysis and decision-making processes.

This information can be used as a guide to understand media consumption and the format of stories to reach audiences depending on their demographics.

We did this via a survey monkey link for a 2-minute survey that could be done online or on mobile phones. The link was shared via the research team, on MIC’s social media and on UNDP’s social media. There were 169 respondents across the six countries in this study. The results are as follows:

20 A Media Analysis of the Coverage of Youth Involvement in Crime and Violence and Trafficking in Persons (June 2021 to June 2023) in the Eastern Caribbean

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