“There are certain figures in this country who are monied and politically connected who believe that when they call (the heads of media house) they get their desired results,” former talk show host Michael Pintard claimed yesterday.
Speaking as a guest on More 94’s radio talk show Real Talk, he said that although the Bahamas as a democratic country has a free press, in reality some journalists are not willing to criticise politicians beyond a certain level for fear of economic repercussions.
Mr Pintard said that, according to his sources, some media houses [certainly not BahamasB2B] are afraid to air or publish certain stories because they are worried that customers will pull their ads.
“And when your approach to journalism is determined in part by what economic impact you’re going to feel, then I think the Fourth Estate is in trouble,” he said.
Mr Pintard said journalists should never gather information or write news articles while considering which business or political figures may be offended and whether they will remove their advertisements.
“I cannot first calculate who I might offend or whether or not they are going to keep their ads or continue to do business with the organisation that I am a part of. That’s when you have a fettered press,” he said.
Although Mr Pintard expressed concern over the close relationship between the business world and the media in the Bahamas, he said he feels that the country essentially still has a free press.
Mr Pintard parted ways with his former employer Wendall Jones, CEO of Love 97, earlier this month after a disagreement on comments he made on the talk show Issues of the Day.
Mr Jones told The Tribune that Mr Pintard was asked to apologise on air to Prime Minister Perry Christie for comments he had made on his show about Mr Christie’s statements on the death penalty. Mr Pintard, however, refused to apologise, standing by his comments.
He further said that political and financial pressures imposed on Mr Jones and his company may have been the reason for his termination.
Mr Pintard served as host on the popular talk show from September to the beginning of February.
Source: The Tribune
