Here's a picture of Heena interviewing the former Attorney General of the Maldives who is now running for president as an independent. In a normal democracy this interview would not be unusual. But in this country it's historic. And for that reason the interview almost didn't get on the air.The candidate, Hassan Saeed, is campaigning on a promise to attack the drug problems in the Maldives. This campaign event brought together former drug users, who risk prison for appearing on camera because it's a crime here just to admit that you used drugs. Saeed is charging that the current regime is covering up the true extent of the drug problems here.
When we sat down to write the package, the news director busted the story down to a vo and soundbite. Why? Because President Gayoom's party held a rally the same night and didn't make much news. Besides, the president didn't talk, only the DRP party spokesman. So it really wasn't worth more than a vosot. The drug event, plus the newsmaking soundbites and exclusive interview from Saeed were worth a package. But we are still overcoming the old rule that the opposition is not allowed to appear on TVM.After a lot of arguing back and forth the package did air. But someone misplaced the Gayoom tape and they aired in reverse order with the president second after the Saeed package. Later I was told the news director was pressured for putting an opposition candidate ahead of the president.
Later that evening my team met with the Opposition Alliance. It was like something out of a James Bond movie as we took a van to a street corner and then waited for someone to tell us the exact location of the meeting. The assembled opposition leaders clearly view us as naive Americans who have been brought in to whitewash the regime's attempts to control the media, and therefore the outcome of the election. Well, we can't change the history of the past 30 years, but we might be able to get them a soundbite on the evening news. First they have to send a press release so that TVM will know what events to cover. Both sides have to learn how to wage a campaign in the media.
Update: We are still getting orders from the President's VIP crew. (See earlier posts: VIP Crew Problems and More Propaganda.) Today's press release concerned the president's departure on a foreign trip. At the last minute, Waseem was ordered to read it on the 2 pm news, but the tape was not there, so when the tape showed up he was forced to read the entire press release AGAIN. The official video was even longer than the press release, so they just let it run without narration or sound.
A lot of people have asked if I think TVM will go back to its old way of covering news when my team goes back to the US. Until today, I was optimistic that the changes would stick. Now I am not so sure.
3 comments:
There is a Dhivehi saying that a dog’s tail will never be straight regardless of what you do to it. Too bad, that you have to learn it the hard way over TVM.
TVM has always played a notorious role in distorting the truth. TVM has been part and parcel of many injustices that are taking place in this country, ie. by shutting their eyes deliberately to many of the injustices, and then by glorifying those perpetuating the injustices. [of many, one case in point. an incident after Nasheed took office - thugs who attacked dissidents with sharp objects in the streets of Male’ were marked as ‘Peaceful Youth’].
I remember during my school days, TVM Heyambo programme showed a report on Mobutu Sese Seko, the President of Zaire (now DR Congo) highlighting his lavish life style and disregard for the people in the country. Interestingly, people draw the similarities with Mobutu and Maldives President and started to talk much about it. Then TVM used to show CNN news live for few hours everyday, and it was around Mobutu’s last days in power and CNN was covering the crisis. But then after Heyambo’s programme, TVM have started to censor news about Mobutu. So whenever CNN reports on Mabutu, TVM abruptly stops CNN coverage. Obviously, then Mobutu never made it to TVM Dhivehi news. So one can imagine the extent of influence some people have on this institute.
TVM has been kind of a cult. TVM anchors used to be selected only after direct approval from the president of the country. And of course he also finds times to call them and give ‘feedback’. Over the years the veteran TVM crews have only mastered the art of deception, and most of them have sold their soul and ethics when they became part to it.
Ismail,thank you for posting. I'm in no position to judge the past, but I can tell you things have already changed for the better at TVM. They are actively looking for good people who want to ask tough questions and present compelling stories on the air, both in English and Dhivehi. If you know anyone who would like to do this, please submit resumes now! As soon as the public broadcasting corporation is formed, they will be hiring the best and brightest. Public broadcasting will be accountable to the parliament and, thus, to the people. It won't change overnight, but I hope we are on a path to a better future.
If TVM was as repressive as you say, they would never have allowed me to blog like this!
Sorry for any inconvenience caused.So long...thank you for all the fish.
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