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Prime Minister Gaston Browne has accused Observer Radio of censoring news coverage and intentionally blocking positive stories about his administration, in what he described as a betrayal of the media outlet’s founding principles.
During his weekly broadcast on Pointe FM, Browne claimed that the current management of Observer Media Group, including hosts Serpent and Dave Lester Payne, had instructed staff not to report favourable news related to the Antigua and Barbuda Labour Party (ABLP) or the Office of the Prime Minister.
“They have given instructions to their staff not to carry any article that is positive about the Prime Minister,” Browne said. “They ban the banax and they ban Max. That’s censorship and bias at its worst.”
The Prime Minister noted that his government had previously acted in the interest of press freedom by allowing the acquisition of Observer’s equipment when the company faced bankruptcy.
He said his administration did not interfere with the transaction, even though the state had outstanding debts owed by the media group.
“We could have blocked them. We could have taken over in satisfaction of government debt.
And we said no,” Browne stated. “We facilitated the sale at a fraction of the station’s value, and now they’re using it to attack the very government that helped keep it alive.”
Browne warned that the editorial direction of Observer Radio was contributing to staff dissatisfaction and undermining public confidence in the media.
“They keep losing staff because most of the news comes from government and they’re being told not to carry it,” he said.
The Prime Minister also took aim at what he called “vitriolic rhetoric” on Observer’s airwaves, arguing that such practices were damaging the station’s credibility and alienating listeners.
There has been no public response from Observer Media Group to the Prime Minister’s accusations.
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You have POINTE FM, ABS TV and ABS RADIO, you even get back ZDK, my God you want OBSERVER too, if that don’t beat all
While you are accusing Observer of censorship you are turning a blind eye to the happenings at the Nation’s Station, ABS.
If you will begin by freeing up ABS to report on news and not campaining then and only then can you accused any station of censorship.
You radio station doesn’t even allow a caller with a different opinion.
Your radio station wants every caller to campaign and rob your bald head.
Observer will report news and not political adds.
I feel your pain considering that Observer is the most widely listened to radio station in Antigua.
However if you want Observer to do what you are calling for begin at ABS and Pointe FM.
Let them operate as they should.
Oh, by the way, your news portal is no different.
All it does is campaign.
The operators have buried all ALL journalistic principles and ethics.
Ok the prime minister is demanding that observer radio be run from press releases made on his radio station, the observer journalist should just read his scripts verbatim and no questions ask. I think AI would be destructive carrying out propaganda.
Yes both NEWSPAPER & RADIO have an AXE TO GRIND against Labour Party……
““Immediately, a clear and concise statement from Serpent indicating he is an owner and programme host, but he will be removed from programming and newsroom decisions, and be seen to be removed from these programming decisions, should happen. And then he should let his word be his bond.
“The Daily Observer itself needs an editorial statement and they need to recommit to fair and balanced news process and they need to be seen to be doing that regardless of where the owner sits and what their editorial i.e. their opinion is,” Brann added.”
https://antiguanewsroom.com/why-serpents-entry-into-politics-is-a-big-deal/
I have to agree with him, but on allllllll news sites….They all do t.
Anyone who listens to only one news site is clearly biased.
This is exactly why KIERON MURDOCH and DARREN MATTHEW-WARD left that toxic workplace. They refused to be bullied and controlled!!!!
Blacker Pot POINTE FM calling out OBSERVER RADIO that’s a frigging laugh, whenever Gaston leaves the scene he’ll leave a very man with all that he’s accumulated while the minions and Lickspittlers will be still scrunting, there none so blind as one who refuses to see