ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – The Media Staff Affiliation of Grenada (MWAG) Friday condemned what it termed “threats, intimidation, and actions by political activists and operatives,” who it stated are forcing statutory our bodies and government-affiliated companies to withhold or terminate promoting contracts with media homes that enable opposition voices or public criticism of the ruling administration.
“These actions are nothing wanting an assault on democracy and a direct assault on press freedom in Grenada. The apply of weaponizing authorities promoting to punish or silence media shops is an abuse of energy that undermines the constitutional rights of all Grenadians to entry unbiased data and numerous views,” MWAG stated in a press release.
It stated public promoting funds don’t belong to any political get together and that these funds are collected from taxpayers and should be “allotted pretty, transparently, and within the nationwide curiosity, (and) not used as political instruments to manage or coerce the media.”
Media stories right here acknowledged {that a} well-known surrogate of the ruling Nationwide Democratic Congress (NDC) has threatened to orchestrate the elimination of presidency promoting from a neighborhood radio station, citing displeasure with public criticism aired on the station’s well-liked morning speak present.
The stories acknowledged that the activist has promised to “carefully monitor” the radio station, referencing earlier successes in comparable campaigns.
“So there are some stations the place we had been very profitable in chopping a few of these adverts, very, very profitable,” he stated.
In September final yr, the federal government eliminated ads from a radio station that had been essential of the Dickon Mitchell administration.
In its assertion, MWAG stated that the usage of monetary stress to affect editorial choices is “censorship by financial strangulation.
“MWAG is not going to stand idly by any group that seeks to suffocate press freedom and stifle the voices of journalists, broadcasters, program hosts, podcasters, and content material creators who serve the general public’s proper to know.
“MWAG calls for that every one statutory our bodies, state-owned enterprises, and authorities ministries reject political interference in promoting choices and distribute public promoting sources equitably.”
It stated that it was additional calling on the Grenada authorities “to publicly and unequivocally reaffirm its dedication to defending press freedom and guaranteeing that no media home faces financial punishment for fulfilling its obligation to tell the general public.
“MWAG stays unwavering in its mission to defend the constitutional rights of media staff and the Grenadian public. We are going to proceed to advocate forcefully for a media surroundings the place all voices might be heard with out concern— and the place reality, professionalism, and moral conduct are non-negotiable pillars of our democracy,” it added.
