After a few years of dormancy, the Media Workers Association of Dominica (MWAD) on Wednesday brought together some media workers who were urged to help revamp that organisation.
An interim committee to chart the way forward was elected from those at the meeting.
The committee reads Matt Peltier of Q95, freelance journalist Carlisle Jno Baptiste, former MWAD president Cecil Shillingford, Mytrle Bruno of Dominica Vibes, the Chronicle’s Nester Phillip, Errol Thomas and Edona Jno Baptiste.
The seven have been mandated to meet next week to prepare for the AGM of that media organization.
Chairing the meeting was Matt Peltier who called on those present to take the lead in bringing MWAD back to vibrancy.
MWAD has to decide what its raison d’être is:
A club where folks just hangout;
A service organization where members get help with there career and needs like that;
A pressure group use to put media workers agenda on the table;
A PR organ available for hire by the highest bidder;
A fundraiser for various causes;
A union looking at the welfare of media worker;
Or, a professional organization formed to improve the status of media workers generally.
I suggest it be a professional organization that looks after the professional development of its members.
MWAD should be involved in helping make the journalism program at DSC more relevant to its members. MWAD should be seeking lower tuition for members at DSC. It should also be securing scholarships and internships for members, and promoting journalism as a promising career in the schools. They should meet regularly to exchange ideas on stories, reporting techniques and news gathering techniques, new equipment and progressive program ideas.
All media owners and managers should have special status in MWAD because they have the resources to sponsor events. And media owners and managers show work closely with MWAD to get ideas for improving the working conditions of the employees.
Additionally, MWAD should work closely with the Ministry of Education for scholarship and training opportunities. MWAD should also work closely with GIS for access to people and events that make the news.
All of this sounds obvious but it never happened while I was VP of MWAD. As a group we mostly proofread the New/Proposed/ amended Broadcast Act. And yes, there were those trips to regional meetings etc. Hope we get serious soon. We have little or no credibility right now.
An association like MWAD needs journalists on the team, not people who call themselves journalists and can’t even conduct a proper interview, let alone do some proper investigative reporting.
In addition to Cecil Shillingford on board, solicit some advice from Ken Richards & Johnson John Rose
Get it right people. MWAD cannot go anywhere unher Matt. He is too political. he cannot be objective since his affiliations with a certain political party is known publicly. MWAD needs an unbiased and neutral head.
What is the role of the media?
What is the role of MWAD?
Can some of those present really consider themselves to be media workers or paid pilitical propogandist. Well then does MWAD have a future.
to all de detractors……..u all looking for the so-called ‘seasoned journalists’ to join the ranks of MWAD? i dont really think u want that…if they even thought there was anything worthy in an organization like that perhaps they would try it themselves……tell dem to call Johnson John Rose to help dem…..i doubt they interested …..most likely they will disappoint some government people if they were to honor themselves so high…….i am sure there was an open invitation to all journalists and media workers. Why would any ‘government reporter’ want to join a ‘free-minded’ organization? to appear like he is against ‘his government’
Why would mr Matthew want to join MWAD, or even Julian Morris and Tarnia Green……..i thought they would probably want to lead…….alas we putting too much fath in some of our professionals……they keep letting us down……which one of these reporters broke the story on the Gay Cruise ship in Port, which one of them did an ‘in-depth’, focused story on de MOU compared to what we got while under Taiwan….which one of DEM would serve de public so boldly and professionally????? which one of dem? Except Matt or Carlisle? Which ones among de rest? Tell me…….i waitin to hear ur STORY
@ dissident you are funny….but you are right they will never think of johnson, he is not appreciated down here and the leadership would not allow it anyway….although he is not on any side, TRUST ME
MATT U EXPECT MWAD TO FUNCTION? YOU HAVE ‘ESPWA MAL PAPAYE’ TRY TO BE NEUTRAL AND BALANCED ON YOUR TALK SHOW AND, YOU AND YOUR CRONIES WHEN YOUR CALLERS PLAY IGNORANT OF FACTS PL CORRECT THEM. E.G. WHO SHOULD BE GIVEN A STATE/OFFICIAL FUNERAL.
While I have no problem with the organization and I understand that what they want to do is important, I will say that the timing of the meeting was a bit off. This week, anything in the evenings would not work well for a large number of people.
We Dominican’s are to negative. They are trying and for those who post these negative comments can you’ll do better. You’ll try your best to discourage persons who try to do better for the development of the country and the media no matter what it is some of us are very quick to post these negative comments. When are are we going to grow up and try to be positive to build our nation and people…..
That will not go fwd because ppl like Carlisle too political…
As a reporter you must be very A-political, your report must be as factual and objective as possible, not hear say and BEFF!!!! The news paper do not train their reporters so all their news is based on sensationalism and not FACTS…
of course nuh, once the news in not in favor of your boys and them, it is not factual, it is not objective. objective like what you posted under the edison/taiwan story. FACTS huh? lol
Even the marpin interviewer with the 50 ton voice asking talk show questions.
Revamp? Unite? some of them all they do is bad talk other media people during a press conference. I dont feel comfortable around them therefore i will never join. my first time in the media and one particular lady sitting on the committee had so many things to say about me, so how i can join an associaition where there is so much hatred?
Some of them dont even know what reporting is about but they on committee, where are the Top media Practitioners like Tania Green, Julian Morris, Kertist Matthew? you mean to say that’s all the people in the media? Where is Ken Richards? Where does Errol work? hmmmmm where are the people from the Chronicle, DBS, Kairi, GIS?
And the aim is to revamp? MWAD will collapse just like it did, it will always remain Dormant.
Some of these media people don’t like to take correction but they on committee how are the young practitioners suppose to learn from them stupes.
If you want to revive the association you need the people I have listed above not the little babies who aint know about the profession.
I understand Ken Richards….Julian Morris maybe but what’s up with the rest of the names you mentioned.
People like you just sit and run your mouth….it can’t get better than that.
A meeting was announced, those who were present decided on a way forward, now you want to sit calling name and sounding all ridiculous.
Those who did not show up doesn’t want to be part of MWAD, because they are government workers and in their view media in Dominica and government are enemies…..and this could only be true for a country like Syria.
hmmmmm you are so right…..the older journalist on the island believe that they know everything there is to know about journalism…….ask those people on the committee how many of them attended the media workshop conducted by johnson in dominica not too long ago……some of them there are only interested when the workshop in held out of the island, otherwise they are busy…..but again, how can you teach who knows everything anything?
M What?
No sense. Kill that and let every media house check their own vibes!
All you cannot work together!!!
Disgrace!!!
Do you even understand and have any idea what is/was the purpose or role of MWAD?
Boy allu people does abuse free speech eh.
That free speech business really exposing the stupidity across the country.
Well Friend, if there is any sign of stupidity accross the country, it started from the top on DBS and Kairi on the “Animal Programme”.
By the way, who really listens to Mwhat nuh? What’s their agenda this time?
That last meeting to resurrect MWAD came subsequent to a call by a “journalist” at a popular radio station for the organisation’s rebirth. He and another of his colleague were expressing disappointment and concern over their omission from press functions organised by the government. In that same discussion the journalist then sugested that such omission was a matter that MWAD should take up.
MWAD’s rebirth is already soaked in confrontation.
I keep on peeping.
at least you are always listening. ur just a jack!