ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, Mar 10, CMC – The Conference of Churches Grenada (CCG) is calling the better control of the airwaves saying “ordinary decency demands that hosts/hostesses should not allow callers to be abusive or to use insulting or derogatory language especially towards named individuals live on air”.
In a statement, the CCG said radio and television talk show hosts should also be better prepared to discuss topics of relevance to the society.
The CCG said that while it appreciates the opportunity electronic media houses give to ordinary citizens to express their views on the various talk shows, there is need for better control.
“We realize what a powerful medium it is for educating, informing and entertaining. However we would like to express two concerns. Sometimes the topics seem to have been chosen at random, without proper preparation, and are dealt with in a way that can be misleading to some people,” the CCG said in the statement signed by its chairman, Rev Dr Osbert James.
It said it believes that to encourage an intelligent and informative discussion on certain topics it is necessary to ensure that a resource person is available to correct any inaccurate views that may be expressed by callers.
“Especially those who articulate their opinions in a very authoritative manner even when they propose what may be immoral or illegal. This can be misleading for your young and less-discerning listeners since all contributions seem to be accepted and given equal value without question by the host/hostess,” said the statement.
The CCG is also of the opinion that ‘ordinary decency demands that hosts/hostesses should not allow callers to be abusive or to use insulting or derogatory language especially towards named individuals live on air”.
Last December, the CCG was among a group of social partners that called on the Keith Mitchell government to re-introduce Section 6 of the Electronic Crimes Act which provides for a one year jail term for anyone sending “by electronic means any information that is “grossly offensive” or known to be false but reproduced in order to cause “annoyance”, “insult” or “ill will”
The CCG also called for the establishment of a National Censorship Board to address lyrics and visual content on radio, television and online media platforms.
