During TVJ's 7 p.m. news last Friday, Dorraine Samuels had the unfortunate duty of reading an apology required by the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica (BCJ). This was punishment for showing the infamous footage of 'Bobby', the machete-wielder, running amok in Papine square.

That the BCJ has taken on to itself the role of the nation's morality czar is clear.

What is not clear is why the media houses just capitulate and accept this. If media do not understand, and/or are not willing to defend freedom of expression and the public's right to know, then they are doing their audience a disservice. In short, they are wimps.

Pressure from state

In the history of journalism, there has been no shortage of pressure from state agencies, the Church and other parties to limit reportage. It is the willingness to stand up and fight for journalistic principles that has kept such efforts at bay.

The New York Times' stance in the Pentagon papers case and Hustler publisher Larry Flynt's courage to fight the obscenity laws all the way to the United States Supreme Court are two examples of media standing up and fighting for the public's interest to know.

It is unfortunate that TVJ and other media houses lack the spine to take on the BCJ. The BCJ is not issuing commandments handed down from God. And even if they were, smashing them would be a good idea.

Of course, if things continue along this path, the next step will be for TVJ et al to send their proposed newscasts to the BCJ for moral vetting before airing. Stay tuned.

I am, etc.,

OLIVER HUNTER

oliverhuntersurveys@yahoo.com

Ocho Rios, St Ann