Local programming a thing of the past ???

The programming on any given night is enough to make one wonder what country they are in. According to executive director of Gayelle TV, almost every country you may travel to has their very own local programs shown at particular times of the day. NOT IN TRINIDAD! Luckily, channel 4 has remained faithful in bringing us some outdated local programs that were filmed mostly before I was born, nevertheless, its one of the few stations that we can see 'we culture' highlighted.


Then why are there so many foreign tv programs (mostly American) - the answer is not a deep seated one. It's mainly economic. The United States dominates the world in film, video and music production and has a global distribution network for its productions.  Although piracy and the DVD market have eroded profitability in recent years, the United  States is able to sell its productions all over the world at very affordable cost. Europe has resisted American dominance with tough local content regulation and financial and other support for European work. Trinidad and Tobago has not yet come to realization that we have the ability save the rich heritage that is Trinidad through the subsidizing of local content.


Now, thanks to foreign media, we have:

1. Foreign tastes exemplified in our Americanized lifestyles, trying to life the life as shown on TV
2.  It can be said that some level of violence as shown on television impacts our willingness to 'act out what we see'
3. Our sense of community and our value system has now drastically changed due to american programming. Homosexuality is normal, teenagers have sex and having more that one partner is also normal, and women are still see and the housewife or the 'sexy one'.

To save our beautify twin island state we must be willing to invest in its future. Errol Fabien assures us that change can start within a community where someone with a camera share their story, make others aware of your neighbourhood in a fun entertaining way. All we have to do is be conscious as individuals and make our local stories go viral on this fascinating creation called electronic media.

Speak out - children have a right to live !!!

Tear rolled down my eyes uncontrollably when I heard the tragic fate of baby Aliyah Johnson, just 2 years of age and beaten to death. What kind of crazy world do we live in? For such a small island such as ours, why is it that violence against children is so prevalent? Are we then doing enough to save our future generation?

Pathologist Dr Valery Alexandrov, after performing an autopsy on Aliyah, determined she died as a result of blunt force abdominal trauma and acute internal blood loss. The pathologist spent almost three hours at the Forensic Science Centre, St James carefully examining the body of the young girl, who died on Easter Sunday, to determine the cause of her death. There was no sign of sexual abuse.

Police reported, at about 7.45 pm on Sunday, they received a report by staff at the Siparia District Health Facility that an unresponsive two-year-old child had been brought to the hospital, bearing marks of violence about her body, and bleeding from her vagina. 

These occurrences must not be taken lightly, as a nation we can influence the hand of change. Join facebook groups against child abuse, support rallies & marches that speak out against violence toward women & children, support the Gender Bill; let us pass legislation that would deter child molesters and child abusers. As a nation we can rise up & not only use social media for networking but also use it to force the hand of change. 

Akiel Chambers, 11,Josiah Govenor, 6,Daniel Guerra, 8,Adrian Richards, 12,Akel Gafoor, 17,Amy Annamunthodo, 4,Dane Andrews, 12,Dario Mc Coy, 16,Devika Lalman, 15,Dion Barclay, 16,Dominic Thomas, 16,Etean Smith, 2,Hope Arismendez, 8,Jashouna Hypolite, 15,Jevon La Monte, 17,Kimo Richards, 15,Kyle Grant, 17,Kylie Garcia, 15,Leah Lammy, 8,Lily Seepersad, 7,Lisa Sammy, 17,Lorenzo Harridath, 10,Mastaq B......enoit, 16,Michael Forde, 14,Mikhaeil Alleyne, 13,Neil Clement, 17,Parmanan Persaud, 13,Radha “Pixie” Lakhan, 16,Riana Parag, 18,Ricardo McKenzie, 16,Ronald Palakdhari, 16,Sean Luke, 6,Shahida Phillip, 16,Shernelle Codrington, 16,Simeon King, 16,Tecia Henry, 10,Zakia Mitchell, 14,Zareen Ansara Mohammed, 15...all the children who will never have a chance to embrace life...and Aaliyah Johnson, 2

ANOTHER CHILD MUST NOT DIE BEFORE WE DECIDE TO ACT !!!!!!

D sexy woman in d picture - Is she real ?

How often have we as individuals stopped and given thought as to who is this 'sexy redz' in the white oak ad or the beauty on the 'Tile It' billboard, scantily clad, make up well done and portraying to the view public notions of beauty that society deems as acceptable. 

It's amazing how little Trinidad, a population of 1.3 million people have mastered the art of utilizing electronic media to tell young girls and women that they are not slim enough, or pretty enough, or your choice of dress just isn't revealing enough. 

Sut Jhally, media studies theorist, it in his works Catch - 22 of female sexuality examines the difficult position  that the media often place women and young girls in. The effect that media has on female identity is one that is almost impossible to comprehend as women are portrayed to be both innocent and experienced at the same time, both the virgin and the slut simultaneously. 

What then can be our recourse as women? Activism is the only logical solution that can influence effectual change. When we speak up things happen, if we take action maybe then our sisters and daughters may not be so pressured to live up to false ideals and hegemonic notions of womanhood. Let's talk about these touchy issues, after all why must we be used as objects to sell rum ! 

Thumbs up for Bagoo

"UNDER THE chairmanship of Ken Gordon, who has had a school of journalism named after him and who has promoted himself as a champion of the free press, the Integrity Commission yesterday showed no concern over the unwarranted raiding and seizure of property from Newsday and the home of investigative reporter Andre Bagoo."


The excerpt above was taking from an article in the Newsday dated Sat 11th Feb, in which the article confirmed police involvement in the raiding of Newsday's head office as well as a reporter Andre Bagoo's home, seizing his computer hard drives, laptops, cell phones & other recording devices. 

Prior to the raid, Mr Bagoo, a known antagonistic journalist of the' party of the day ' broke a story about a rift among Integrity Commission chairman Mr Ken Gordon and Miss Gladys Gafoor. 

My question is ......where does this agenda setting end. Think with me for a while........the Newsday covered a controversial story & months later 'd police lookin for evidence one who is source is' MADNESS .........so just because Mr Ken Gordon own The Trinidad Express, the National Newspaper in Barbados, CCN TV6, Grenada Broadcasting Network, STARCOM Network and a host of other radio stations in various parts of the Caribbean ....he feel he is boss!! 

What happened to freedom of the press ....is it now wrong to inform the citizens of what is really going on in Trinidad. Its ok to have freedom of the press ...once you don't interfere with the 'powers that be'. Looks like little Trinidad may have its own Rupert Murdoch !!!!  

 Mr Bagoo, I say continue to educate the public, feel free to open our eyes to the those who act above the law and those who take on the role of puppet masters as they pull all the strings making the act look real. keep up the good work !

So.....I took the opportunity to make mental notice of my media consumption over the past 12 hours and what I found out about myself was quite interesting. 
Drawn to my laptop screen, online TV series are my entertainment mode of choice, thus the drama of Grey's Anatomy, the suspense of Switched At Birth and the hopeless romance in the chic flick 90210 had my full attention for the past few hours. 
So what? you make ask............its amazing how the shows we choose to consume religiously have in many cases a ridiculous message which we never question. Take for instance 90210, it has a wide fan base with a higher concentration of fans being teens as the show is based around the glitz and glamour, the drama, the one night stands and the relationships that are thought to last forever, the joys, burdens, trials and triumphs that come with being seventeen, rich and residing in Beverly Hills.
How on earth can I draw any kind of relation to that show ...........it's amazing how I can even stand to watch a program that highlights the sexual prowess of rich teenagers. Am I in turn saying that it's okay to sexually objectify teen girls because the story line is compelling ?? Have you ever been conscious of the media you choose to consume ?? If so, how has it shaped you understanding of the world ? 


Would love to hear you view !!