When bad news is better than good

Breaking News: “In an apparent reprisal, three men are shot dead in capital, Kingstown”.

At the same time, at the Diamond Track Facility, an athlete breaks a 50 year-old national record at the Inter-

Schools Meet, and qualifies for the Under-20 World Championships, as well as the next Olympics Games in

2028. Should this be the case in reality, which will get prominence in the media here in St Vincent and the Grenadines? Without hesitation, it would be the case of the three men being killed by gun violence, rather than someone using their God given talent that brings glory to the country.

This is just the reality of us, bad news is projected as better than good news or personal accomplishments.

Therefore, consumers of news are forced to believe this notion and too, are sent to the misguided pathway of thinking. Set aside the instantaneous spread of violent activities via social media, mainstream outlets too, are being sucked into this phenomenon.

A case in point was the highlighting of the fight after a football match at the Chili Playing Field October 15, 2024, involving the St Clair Dacon Secondary and the Georgetown Secondary schools. Unfortunately, that video made the rounds and the vagaries of the fight that reportedly involved parents and students. Hence, the results on the field mattered little.

A case in point was last week’s stabbing of a student at a secondary school on the Leeward side of the mainland. That unsavoury incident got prominence in multiple publications and was a road march on the many social media platforms.

Whilst this column is not condoning that actions of young people relative to the violent conduct in every sphere, there should be equality afforded those who keep on the right side of social cohesion and are using sports as a vehicle to steer them away from deviance. The hierarchy of news outlets here in St Vincent and the Grenadines in the main, sees sports as a side -dish, but are quick to pounce on stories that show the anti- social side of our young people and make it the main course.

Therefore, sports is given the least of values, and often times gives way to “hard news”.

However, they jump on the band wagon when someone, a national team, a coach or any official, shoots into the spotlight.

It is without doubt that the relentless media coverage of crime is contributing to social biases, especially when it comes to socio- economic status and specific locales here in the country. There is a field of thought which suggests that sensationalized crime reporting can reinforce stereotypes or create public misconceptions about particular groups and specific communities.

When compared, sports coverage fosters national or regional pride, especially during global competitions like the Olympics or World Cup.

And, St Vincent and the Grenadines does not have to look far for evidence, as last August, Shafiqua Maloney’s exploits at the Paris Olympics in France, evoked national consciousness, creating a sense of community and shared identity.

As it is, sports media coverage often focuses on the inspiration it can provide to the public.

Again, Maloney fits into this, as stories of athletes overcoming adversities can influence young people, encouraging them to pursue sports, or take on challenges in their own lives.

The stories are many from our neighbours – Saint Lucia, as Julien Alfred’s successes at the World Indoors and subsequent Olympics, have been catalysts for the entire country. Moreover, the country is benefitting from positive worldwide attention, which in turn extrapolate into economic benefits for Saint Lucia.

But are we too far gone for St Vincent and the Grenadines to rethink its way of revelling in reporting crime stories and give some semblance of relevance to sports?

Yes, we are faced with the truths that we are living in a time when violent crime is on the uptick, however, there are many shades of good that the youths are pursuing.