If nothing, the different sessions of the House of Representatives provide interesting opinions of our elected politicians and the interests they represent. Like mentioned by a political commentator sometime back, very rarely issues are raised that deals with the problems of the entire nation. Most of the time it is for the narrow benefit of one constituency or the other that the politicians speak up. But still, such sentiments are understandable, as the elected representatives must have made certain promises to their voters while asking for their support and they must feel this is the way they may be able to fulfil them. But sometimes the MPs confound you by speaking up on really trivial matters. Just last week, an MP described the opening up of some trucks by the Revenue Investigation Department on suspicion of them smuggling goods as “sensitive”. If that is sensitive, then what is “normal”?  Such statements do not suit the image of this senior politician, who otherwise has a formidable reputation.

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     Like we have mentioned at other times, an air crash always has maximum impact on the psyche of the people. The media also tries to inform the people as much as it can about the tragedy. But what Ms. does not understand is, why the proper authorities don’t disseminate information about such events properly. What we find is some official talking to a known journalist or a favoured one and not passing information so that all may receive it. This is just not right, when such a grave incident has occurred. Some journalists were complaining about the same problem they are facing in getting news about the forthcoming SAF Games activities. It seems different committees are giving out information to newspapers of their own choice instead of going through the Press and Publicity Committee formed specifically to coordinate between them and the media people. This has not helped in properly disseminating information about the regional Games, which even the Prime Minister has called the “Pride and prestige of the nation”. Perhaps a more professional approach from both the sport officials and also the Publicity Committee would set things right, though looking at some committee people, including those of a committee which kept the busy Sports Minister cooling his heels for more than one hour last week, this might be expecting too much.

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     Everybody talks of being professional whenever there is a formal function. This is specially true when politicians, government officials and journalists get together. Such talk could also be heard at a function organised by the Editors’ Guild, an obscure organisation, that itself does not seem to be doing anything to promote professional journalism. Prominent people in the media sector spoke at the function and virtually all again talked of the magic word “professionalism”, which seems to do the vanishing trick each time this has to be actually practiced. Also the irony is, these very people, who constantly give lectures on this elusive objective, don’t seem to carry the mantle of professionalism themselves. For example, how is professionalism helped when ministers appoint politically close people in professional posts? Then how do these “favoured” people who have accepted such responsible posts act professionally, when they themselves are politically aligned? Perhaps as our “successful” colleagues who can be seen preaching us about lofty ideals know, professionalism is a word to be preached and not practiced, right? Some former media professionals, who now have turned political allies of one party or the other, should also know the secret of this formula.

 Guess that’s all for today, see you next week.

-Ms. Kristi