Unprofessional Approach to Journalism Must Stop – Vaz

Minister of Information, Daryl Vaz has called on media practitioners to take a more professional approach to reporting and to stop the practice of speculative and sensational journalism.

He made specific reference to a matter of extradition reported in the media today.  Mr. Vaz,  who was  speaking at today’s post cabinet press briefing at Jamaica House, said the  media reports of the  extradition  of politicians  has been driven by a particular source  and lawyer aided and abetted by journalists and talk show hosts, who give ample time for speculation and rumour  to be discussed as news.

Minister Vaz said he had spoken today with the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister of Justice, who have all indicated that the Government of Jamaica has not been informed of any such thing in any area of Government.

‘I intend for what it is worth to write to the Press Association of Jamaica so that I can put on record not only the government’s dissatisfaction but that of well thinking Jamaicans…. I find it unprofessional, distasteful and disingenuous. I urge the media to stop it regardless of who is in government… This is not productive neither is it in anyone’s interest or productive to have rumour and speculation become headlines in newspapers and news stories’, Mr. Vaz emphasized.