NASSAU, Bahamas, October 9, 2021 — As a member of the fourth estate for more than 20 years, I am fully aware of the challenges and obstacles that my colleagues in the media have traditionally faced in obtaining access to government leaders and essential information. Indeed, one of the main reasons I took the job of press secretary for this new administration was because I thought I could contribute significantly to professionalizing how the media interacts with elected officials in our country.
Earlier this week, I drafted new guidelines to form the basis of a discussion with members of the media and invited news leaders who regularly cover government to attend a Zoom meeting so they could provide feedback. The meeting was held yesterday and was collaborative and productive.
The guidelines were drafted with the following goals in mind: (1) to ensure that requests from the media receive a response in a timely manner; (2) to expand access to government officials beyond the biggest players in the media, so that new voices can participate, especially during briefings; and (3) to make sure health and security protocols are respected during media/government interactions.
In the past, journalists would camp out in front of Cabinet, hoping to grab a soundbite from a Minister rushing on his or her way into the meeting. This was never an ideal system, but has become even more problematic with Cabinet temporarily located downtown and the media forced to block sidewalks on Bay Street.
We are pleased to announce the establishment of a weekly Cabinet Briefing. This will allow reporters and Ministers to engage with members of the administration before the Cabinet meeting in an orderly and safe way.
In his first three weeks in office, the Prime Minister has engaged the media on multiple occasions. As Leader of the Opposition, he frequently held press conferences and made himself available to members of the media. The Office of the Press Secretary in the Office of The Prime Minister will now hold weekly briefings providing a venue and opportunity for Government officials to engage with the media. The Prime Minister intends to participate in the briefings to share news and answer questions on a regular basis.
We also invite and encourage members of the media to call our office to arrange interviews with members of Cabinet, or to send us specific questions for any Minister. It is our hope to facilitate such requests in a timely manner. While we encourage members of the media to book interviews through our office, nothing prevents a member of the media from reaching out to a Minister on their own. This service supplements this existing practice, rather than replaces it.
In our archipelago, there are news outlets that are small but nonetheless important to their audiences. The intention is to broaden access — access too often in the past has depended on the extent of a reporter’s personal contacts and relationships.
To facilitate security at both Cabinet Briefings and OPM Briefings, we will be providing accreditation badges to participating members of the media. This will not only enhance security for our officials but also reduce the security-related red tape and delays journalists have faced in the past. We recommend that media houses begin by sending the credentials of two reporters for accreditation, but we are mindful that some outlets will need to rotate and assign other journalists as well, and we will work to accommodate additional requests. We believe these new ways of operating represent an upgrade for all involved and will bring The Bahamas in compliance with best practices regionally and globally.
As noted, the meeting held yesterday with members of the media to discuss these matters was collegial and constructive. Journalists who attended made helpful suggestions and their feedback will be reflected in the final guidelines.
It is unfortunate that some members of the media who did not attend the meeting have taken to social media to voice their objections. Had they attended the meeting, they would have had the benefit of participating in and contributing to the discussion. This would have been a more productive approach, we believe, than leaking a draft document and manufacturing a controversy.
A free press is essential for democracy and national growth. While change sometimes fosters apprehension, we are confident that the press, the government, and the public will all benefit from greater professionalism in government-media relations.
Office of the Prime Minister
Commonwealth of The Bahamas
October 9th, 2021
