The role of newspapers

I READ in yesterday’s (26/07) The Fiji Times that the A-G referred to it as a “joke newspaper”.

I wonder why.

I think the A-G is the smartest man in the Parliament.

I respect his wide grasp of issues and admire his uncanny ability to explain matters in a simple, succinct manner.

I find his sarcasm and literary references endearing.

Sadly, it mostly goes over the heads of his intended targets — a mostly clueless bunch and that, in itself, is quite amusing, but I must say that calling The Fiji Times a “joke newspaper” is not fair and accurate at all — if you consider the role of a newspaper in a fair, objective and unbiased manner.

A newspaper makes us familiar with the current events of our nation.

It brings news of the world and the news of the masses to us.

It tells us the opinion of the public through the letters to the editor column.

And considering the number of letters that are published (especially on Saturdays), it is clearly not a nation talking to itself, but rather a good newspaper talking to the nation about the pulse of the public.

It is a good source of entertainment through stories, titbits, dialogues and sports news.

A newspaper enjoys great powers in the society.

It comments and criticises the laws and working of the government’s affairs.

It educates the people’s mind on legal, educational, historical, economic, political and social topics.

It makes democracy a true success by rightly directing the public.

It is one of the important means of communication and a channel to link the government with the people.

In a democracy a newspaper serves as a brake or check on the government’s working.

And The Fiji Times does all of the above.

A newspaper is also the best means of advertisement though for some inexplicable reason, The Fiji Times does not carry government vacancies — a cautionary note to jobseekers who may want to join the civil service.

Maybe, it’s the “wrong” paper.

I read both the mainstream dailies and some days it seems they are published in different countries.

In my own unscientific surveys, I have found that people buy the dailies according to their political affiliations, but the more elite segment of the public seem to prefer The Fiji Times.

Perhaps an independent pollster can be hired to determine which paper provides greater value.

But that maybe a futile task as most people’s thinking is — “Do not confuse me with facts. My mind is already made up”. ARVIND MANI

Nadi