BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – JOURNALISTS from across the Federation are invited to attend tomorrow’s (Apr. 16) workshop on responsible reporting on tourism and crime at the Frigate Bay Resort.
The two-day workshop is the brainchild of the St. Kitts Tourism Authority (SKTA) and will be held from 8:30 a.m. to noon daily. According to SKTA Communications Manager Saju Ng’alla, it would cover the importance of responsible reporting regarding tourism, proper interpretation of data for news writing and non-detrimental crime reporting.
Executive Member of the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, Johnson JohnRose will guide participants from the basics of news gathering such as interviews to advanced-level journalism issues such as ethics.
Ng’alla revealed that the workshop’s format would consist primarily of group discussions, Microsoft PowerPoint presentations and fieldwork exercises. He stressed the workshop was a critical venture because it was incumbent upon journalists to be aware of the role they play in marketing and promoting tourism.
“The media informs the public, so it is important that they be responsible in their reporting. By responsible, I do not mean they should hide or withhold the truth. Rather, they should be aware of the consequences of what they write as it pertains to the tourism industry, because it is the most important sector of our economy,” he said.
The Manager further stated that when prospective tourists try to learn more about St. Kitts, media sensationalism, especially about crime, could deter them from visiting and therefore be detrimental to the tourism sector’s earning potential.
“Crime does happen, but journalists should refrain from seemingly glorifying or sensationalising it. The language used in reporting it should be as harsh and damaging, because of the negative consequences that would have. Prospective visitors who go online to learn more about St. Kitts and see our media outlets splashed with gruesome images and exaggerated stories will choose not to come here.
“The workshop does not aim to brainwash the local media or reduce their capacity to report. It simply seeks to make them aware of the consequences of their reporting and steps they can take to minimise the negative fallout these consequences may have,” Ng’alla explained.
