Journalism a risky profession

Journalism can be a risky profession, especially for those who wish to go the route of investigative journalism.

President of the Barbados Association of Journalists and Media Workers (BARJAM), Emmanuel Joseph suggested the above recently as he spoke as one of the panellists discussing “The Challenges to Press Freedom in the Caribbean", during a virtual conference hosted by The Media Institute of the Caribbean, in partnership with the US Embassy in Barbados. Joseph noted that whilst many persons have been calling for more investigative journalism on the part of media workers in Barbados and the Caribbean, the tables often turn when the spotlight is placed on those making those calls.

“Whatever a journalist does, his profession is at risk. We operate in a risky profession. So yes, the answer is yes, independent journalism is at risk. It is at risk, because we are here to tell the truth, we are here to speak truth to power and to speak the truth to our people. People want the truth, but they don't want the truth, if that truth impacts on them,” he asserted.

“So even though on one hand you want freedom of the press, you want investigative journalism, you want journalists to go out there and be brave, it only happens if you are targeting somebody else, but not you,” he added.

“I can tell you from experience, that has happened to me. Everybody wants investigative journalists. Even the government wants journalists to be more thorough and to do research and all of that, but I can recall a number of stories I have done and there was a backlash. So this is a very intriguing profession that we operate in,” Joseph stated.

He however noted that journalists and media workers need to “press forward” in spite of the challenges they may at times face, carrying out their job in an accurate and professional manner. (RSM)