VIEW FROM THE SECRETARY-GENERAL
MEDIA IMAGES
The process of mass communication involves the daily production and distribution of millions of print and electronic messages and images across the world. The conventional role of mass media is to transmit messages that are considered useful to individuals in private and public life. The fundamental human rights of freedom of expression and of the press seek to give individuals constitutional rights to communicate and associate freely. What often disturbs me, however, is that the majority
of the media in industrialized countries appear to focus on negative images that obtain in poor but developing countries. World political and economic history has always been
reported by the media, locally and internationally. The tradition of coverage has always been reporting events that make news, news being the unusual daily happenings. During peace and war, the media has always and rightfully
Dr William F. Shija S
disseminated the real events, bad or negative as they are. This appears to be the cardinal principle of the media: to inform the public as soon as events occur. Since the emergence of the United Nations, the period
of the Cold War and the emergence of globalization, much effort has been done by international organizations to combat poverty, illiteracy and disease. The fight against endemic and pandemic diseases, such as smallpox, malaria, tuberculosis, leprosy and the current HIV/AIDS pandemic has been commendably discharged by the international community for the benefit of the world. The disturbing aspect of media coverage occurs when
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gaping pictures of child and adult poverty are displayed by print media and television. It appears that the negative portrayals of poverty and misery in the developing countries of Africa, Asia and Latin America, are preferred by the international media. The images of ravaging poverty,
The Secretary-General’s
The Premier of the Cayman Islands, Hon. Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, MP, (left) and H.E. the Governor, Duncan Taylor (right) with the Secretary-General (centre).
Dr William F. Shija speaking at Interna Interim Director Ms Esther Eghobam Lord Speaker Baroness D’Souza; and
10 | The Parliamentarian | 2013: Issue One
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