Sasha Thomas and Janice Fierce

Ex-journalist Sasha Mohammed

In a world that technology has reamed open, privacy and transparency have become highly-sought commodities or assets, rather than the default options that they had been just before the turn of the century.

Within recent times, the exploding digital landscape has allowed the lay person to be almost any digital self he or she wants to be, which has spawned a phenomenon of low self-esteem and manufactured alter egos, all of which Freud would have looked upon disdainfully.


Take for instance the concept of Beyonce's Sasha Fierce. Does the new persona really mean that the artist is spared the repercussions and consequences of the alter ego's words and actions? Should way simply accept the syringe of the artiste's "truth", that Sasha is another part of her own expressive soul?

In any case, this is little room to argue against the notion that Mz Knowles has done disservice to both herself and womankind, by not being able to stand up in her own pumps and pump her own fist. In fact, "Run the World" leaves a bit of a tart taste with its ambiguous refrain "we run this muthaf....". Where's the message, in between the glorification of MILF-loving?

Which hits home with the Sasha Mohammed fiasco.

A former journalist colleague, and one whom I've never counted as a foe, Sasha has played the game well enough to practically ensure that the rest of her life will be at least financially comfortable. The now Prime Minister's adviser on Public Engagements has dodged the bullet, in not being charged for the allegedly threatening emails sent to her former boss and co-worker. But according to the DPP, "she only did it once" (an indictment?), and can't be charged under the colonial harassment laws.

However,it seems as if no one has explored her culpability under the newer computer crimes legislation, which makes it an offence to impersonate another person, using a computer, for means of premeditated deception (in one instance). I mean, if you have something to tell someone, tell them to their face (or at least from your correct credentials). There are three Janice Thomases listed in the T&T white pages... I'm pretty sure none of them has any links to Express editors and reporters.

Of course, one can claim that the email was sent from a rogue connection to your wireless router, or from another associate who discovered your email account open, or even that the dog did it. Maybe I should send a threatening email just once to everyone I know and then drive through Port of Spain not heeding police direction (a la Nizam Mohammed) what kind of precedents are being set for the public. Determination of guilt and even probable guilt, based on the offenders title and position? That's what the charge room and courts are for.

But what remains the big issue... and one which I feel has not been fully explored by journalists and talk show hosts alike, are the connections and blurred boundaries that are emerging between media workers and politicians. In the run-up to both the 2007 and 2010 elections, media coverage on the then government's performance was rather bleak, as the apparent disenchantment of average citizen crept into the journalistic profession.

Indeed, reporters are people, and will take a side - but should only do so in their private capacity - when one does the people's business, there ought not to be even the perception of bias by a reporter. Nevertheless, the political preferences of a number of reporters became evident during the campaigns (CNMG=PNMg; CNC3=UNC3; WINTV=WINston TV)and sadly, some political cronies disguised as media workers and talk show hosts soon fancied themselves as journalists to further propel various campaigns.

Does it matter to anyone in the profession anymore that in Trinidad, over the last decade or so, a change in the political administration also meant a change in newsroom? Nonetheless, it is the aftermath of the 2010 election that has uncomfortably seen the exodus of staff from the TV6 newsroom... not to protest any principle, but to pick up political position in the new government.

Were we supposed to believe their reportage all the while? Will we believe them after the dream job is over? Maybe, since Trinidadians seem contented in having a short memory. As I said, Mz. Mohammed is quite personable, once you get to know her, she worked hard at Newsday, then Guardian, and then TV6; during which time it became evident that she had acquired a level source with intimate knowledge, judging from the reports and specials that she aired.

The third issue here is is now that she has left the media, why seek to literally and directly attack media workers? Even the issue of the shoddy letter purportedly sent by Gary Griffith (claiming that reporters jeopardized the PM's security) is said to have passed by the former journalist. Media already has its challenges, with convergence and its related labour implications, the advent of new media and the survival of traditional news, and the evolution of the new audience that runs with its own interpretations of data and formats, and which in itself has caused upheaval in the Middle East over the past few months.

The upheaval in T&T though, is of a different nature, not that the culture of newsrooms seems to be evolving, the pro-PP writers and broadcasters now have to deal with the pro-PNM writers and broadcasters who have filled their vacancies.

In the battle between the new and old media, it certainly seems in this case as if the traditional, impartial way of storytelling will give way to biased spewing of personal opinion.
And that, is MY impartial opinion.