Regular readers of this blog know that I spent several months training newscasters at Television Maldives and Voice of Maldives last year. I was the lead consultant on a highly successful training program that prepared young broadcast journalists to provide free and fair coverage of the Islamic republic's first democratic election, including a candidates' debate. Although we made more dramatic progress in TV than in radio, the program brought a positive change to state-run media that previously had broadcast little more than propaganda and had never granted airtime to the opposition. Voters went to the polls and elected a former opposition leader to replace the president who had ruled for decades.
However, the election result appears to have derailed media reform. Although I cannot view TV Maldives newscasts from the US, some Maldivians have told me that the programs have reverted to reading government press releases with less emphasis on independent journalism. The state-run TV and radio stations are now run by a board of the new president's appointees and the BBC is reporting that Anni, as he is popularly known, is visiting the UK to seek private investment in the public channels. Here's the link: http://tinyurl.com/d3rnxj. There is no longer talk of a broadcasting bill that would create a true public service broadcaster, such as PBS and NPR in the United States or the BBC in the UK.
I am not Maldivian, so I can't say what the people want. From an American perspective, President Nasheed doesn't seem to have an idea of what to do with TVM except to control it or to sell it. I can only hope that the people who got our training will someday rise to the top or the next government will be more aware of the role of the press in educating the voters. It may be difficult for Anni to find investors. A public service station cannot be profit making and will always require some kind of funding from the government, such as the public broadcasting we have in the US or UK. Private stations can make money by running Hindi music videos or whatever, but there should be a state broadcaster to provide quality cultural programs and independent news in Dhivehi. I doubt any private investors will be interested, because TVM doesn't make money and I am guessing they would be required to provide programs in Dhivehi, which cost money to make. An investor would want to buy cheap programs from other countries and sell lots of ads. But the potential audience is only about 300,000 men, women and children. Rich tourists provide the country's major revenue, and would be an attractive target for advertisers, but tourists don't go to resorts in an island paradise to watch TV in a language they don't understand.
The DRP, the party of the former legal reform minister and the losing side in the election, had the foresight to fund journalism education for the young TV and radio reporters whose skills are needed to inform the voters in this emerging Islamic democracy. I'd welcome the opportunity to work with the new government in requesting US support for additional journalism training to strengthen the TV and radio newsrooms of both public and private stations. Here's hoping that the party now in power won't lose sight of the importance of broadcasting that truly serves the public interest as Maldives defines its future.
I invite and welcome ALL comments! And sign up for my Twitter feed (on the right side of the screen) to be informed of new posts.
Update: Read an excellent post on this issue at: http://www.mnasheed.com/2009/04/on-the-maldives-national-broadcasting-corporation/
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4 comments:
I do watch TVM prime time news regularly….and I see the exact thing which you have described in your article. The Bulleting starts with News about the President and the first five or ten minutes goes for that! It’s the same old thing that we practiced before your training. Reading the Press release from Presidents Office or broadcasting only one side of the story.
Now, I don’t see any of your lessons being followed. Been a viewer I find no difference in OLD TVM and the NEW TVM, except that now they broadcast News from both studios, one in Male’ and another in Haa Dhaal Atoll (North).
Let me tell you about this particular news story that grabbed my attention few days back. It was about Fisheries ministers visit to Sh. Atoll. I guess the package was of around 2 to 3 minutes. For 3 minutes the reporter narrated about the minister’s visit, how he met the people, where he stood, blah blah ........ he concluded the package saying that 2 people from that atoll went on to the stage with a knife and tried to attack the fisheries minister. That was the concluding sentence!
Yeah, the lead was at end of the story and the whole package was all about his typical visit. The BEST VIDEO, which need to come first was and the end too. There was no comment from the minister about the attack; not even another government official or police said anything. And it came after first commercial! I guess TVM reporters or senior editors didn’t feel the urgency and importance of the story, to put it in headline!
As you have been to Maldives, I’m sure you would understand that it’s not usual happenings. Things like that happen rarely in Maldives.
During your stay in Maldives, you did bring lot of changes to TVM news bulletins as well as to Programs. Some found it hard to digest it while others accepted it. As far as I know you recommended changing the graphics and the animated jingle used in News bulletins. And they did change it to blue one which was quite nice and attractive. But now they don’t use it anymore. They have changed the color of it, the music remains the same but there is nothing called synchronization. It looks kind a funny cuz the colors don’t match with each other and they have changed the set. Set is quite dull in color, but the jingle is in red, while and blue. So to me it looks like “Holy festival” in India where they play with colors!
I can write a booklet like this!
What you heard about TVM is exactly what is happening in there, at least as far I can see from the screen.
Right now, it’s not only the opposition who is complaining about it, even the journalists within the organization and outside are complaining about it! The Journalist association has recently released a press released asking the government to stop controlling the TVM and VOM. They also urged the government to take reporters from other media organization during president’s trip to foreign countries. This comes after the Presidents visit to UK, during which only reporters from TVM was allowed to take part. And the TVM reported saying that they were broadcasting exclusively as if they other organizations was taken there and they failed to get the content! :P
Thank you, Ziyaa, for your update. This is why I believe the training program should continue. No matter which party is in power, TVM and VOM should serve the people with good information and interesting reports. I hope the new administration of TVM will contact me to go forward.
Dear Terry,
We witnessed great reforms in the state run media (TVM in particular) in the last few years, assisted by you and initiated by the previous information minister. And both your team and the previous information minister Mr Nasheed must be applauded for that.
The Government in power now (MDP) was then (when they were in opposition) vigorously and constantly accusing the DRP Government of controlling media for political purposes. It is therefore ironic and sad that, within 3 months after coming to power, they have reversed all the reforms brought about by the previous Government in 3 years. With a new and one of the most liberal constitutions we have now (passed by the previous Government which was branded as 'dictatorial'), we have much lesser freedoms that ever in Maldivian history.
This is the reason why many Maldivians, close to half of the voting population (including myself) still voted for Mr. Gayyoom in the last election. Now matter how bad his regime was, many were convinced that they were still bringing more actual reforms and development than the then-opposition would / could ever bring. Many saw the insincerity with which they were using calls for 'democratic reforms' as a means just to get to power. It was truly sad that many people could not distinguish between 'mere lip service and activisim' and 'tangible actions and gradual reforms'. And therefore could not really choose too wisely between the "lesser" of the "two evils" (which is the case with politics everywhere).
Anyway, what's done is done. What majority of Maldivians want (including myself) is "our" Government to at least continue with the reforms that were made before, if not make it better. IN that regard, we do hope (by public pressure or common sense) that the current MDP Government will reverse their 'autocratic' tactics, and try to stay in power by proving to the people that they could do things better than the other alternatives out there.
We hope therefore that you and other consultants like you will get a shot at it once again,
Best regards,
I am amused by ur biased writing. being a media trainer ourself especial. I also watched some TVM news while you all were here before the presidential election. i also agree there were lots of improvement. congratulations. but you left at the crucial time.
The bews room was controlled and executed by the heads of TVM very well.
i dont agree that they were reporting objectively. they were giving time in news for both parties still now and then they get asay from the ruling party for opposition related stories and when asked why the answer from news room head is "isit...i didnt know that it shouldnt have happen...." Many things like this happens then..still who will explain these things cos they were the people who did it,
The newscasters there were either some friends, exboyfriends , or girlfriends of the cronies...
I am not saying TVM at present is perfect. still i think they are trying to do a good job. they are facing lots of challenges..lets give them some time.
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