ECPC to host workshop for journalists

Self-regulation is the theme of a workshop for print journalists that will take place next Friday, November 26, at the old public library building, Carnegie Hall, Kingstown.

The workshop, to be conducted by the Eastern Caribbean Press Council (ECPC) with the support of UNESCO, aims to familiarise the participants with the Code of Practice for Caribbean journalists. {{more}}

“This ought to help them to elevate their standards and become more responsible practitioners,” the ECPC said in a statement. “In turn, the newspapers for which they work ought to become more respected and be better able to serve the community.”

Among the areas to be covered are matters dealing with privacy, grief, use of listening devices, victims of sexual assault, interviewing children, discrimination, harassment, balance, integrity, conflict of interest, the right of reply and the public’s interest.

Later that same day, at 6.30 p.m., the ECPC will hold a town hall meeting to which members of the public are invited. This is free and will take place at the same venue as the workshop, the old public library building.

At this meeting, it will be explained to the public that they have a right to complain if they have grouses against newspapers. They will be enlightened about the kinds of complaints entertained, the complaints’ procedure and the adjudication process.

Facilitators at the workshop and the public meeting will be chairman of the ECPC Management Committee, Harold Hoyte, who is also the president and editor-in-chief of the Nation newspaper (Barbados); ECPC Management Committee member, Rickey Singh, a noted Caribbean journalist, and Ainsley Sahai, executive officer of the ECPC.