Peeping Tom should first lecture Kaieteur News about responsible journalism

Dear Editor,
I am writing in response to the recent open letter by Peeping Tom addressed to the Guyana Press Association (GPA) concerning the state of press freedom and the conduct of weekly press conferences hosted by the People’s Progressive Party (PPP).
Peeping Tom has completely missed an opportunity to address the critical issue of misinformation and false reporting within our media landscape, particularly the very Kaieteur News, who shades his/her identity.
Peeping Tom should first lecture Kaieteur News about responsible journalism. The Kaieteur News has been infamous for its numerous apologies, retractions, and clarifications, often due to irresponsible journalism and the dissemination of falsehoods. Such practices not only undermine the credibility of the press, but also erode public trust in the media as a whole.
It is essential for the GPA to take a proactive stance in combatting misinformation and ensuring the highest standards of journalistic integrity. In just a two-month period of 2024, Kaieteur News has issued several apologies for egregious errors:
1) March 16: The newspaper falsely attributed blame for a Tobago oil spill to Guyana, an error that drew condemnation from Prime Minister Mark Phillips.
2) April 12: It misreported figures related to the Government’s purchase of planes from India, showcasing a lack of basic fact-checking.
3) May 4: In an attempt to tarnish the reputation of Vice President Dr. Bharrat Jagdeo, the newspaper made a racially insensitive error, mistaking one Chinese individual for another.
4) May 5: It irresponsibly reported on the potential for a tsunami from the Whiptail oil project, demonstrating a lack of understanding of Environmental Impact Assessments.
These examples illustrate a pattern of carelessness and disregard for factual accuracy. This erosion of trust is detrimental to the foundational principle that press freedom should facilitate the pursuit of truth and the dissemination of accurate information.
Contrastingly, Peeping Tom ought to praise and celebrate the PPP for its commitment to openness with the media through its weekly press conferences.
These regular interactions represent the proven track record of an open, fair, and transparent administration that is ready and willing to face scrutiny from the media on a weekly basis.
This practice enhances governmental accountability and provides a platform for the media to ask pertinent questions and hold officials accountable that both the GPA and Peeping Tom must appreciate.

Regards,
Erin Northe