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
No
Grenada
No
Saint Lucia
No
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
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