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The following is a press release from the Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago (MATT) in relation to the arrest of Crime Watch television host, Ian Alleyne, by Inspector Roger Alexander from competing reality crime show, Beyond The Tape, and the subsequent media coverage of the matter:
(Copyright CNC3)
The Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago (MATT) has taken note of the recent on-camera clash between the hosts of two rival popular crime-focused television shows that culminated in the arrest of one programme host by the other.
In this instance, the arresting officer, Insp Roger Alexander, is also the main presenter of Beyond the Tape, a co-production of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) and CCN TV6. The sensational tone of the video recordings of the physical confrontation has attracted wide media coverage and public comment at home and regionally.
It is not MATT’s role or intention to comment on the legal aspects of a matter now before the court. Rather, MATT seeks to address media-related questions that arise.
1) The Association is very concerned about the degree of physical force used by the arresting officer, Insp Roger Alexander, on his media competitor and former colleague.
The TTPS is reminded that in today’s changing media environment, increasing numbers of people operate as non-traditional agents of public information. These include bloggers, internet reporters, cell phone photographers, citizen journalists and whistleblowers.
The right of these people to reasonable treatment from the police while pursuing a story must be respected.
Even in instances where misdemeanors by traditional journalists and/or citizen journalists prompt police action, that action must be commensurate with the circumstances. In MATT’s view, the degree of force used by the arresting officer appears disproportionate to the offence and the circumstances.
MATT questions the refusal of the TTPS to investigate these allegations of excessive force.
MATT notes another potential breach of conduct by the police in a recent video circulating on social media that appears to be recorded by police officers at the Chaguanas Police Station. The video shows the defendant being taunted and ridiculed.
The Association calls for clear policies at crime scenes so that journalists and others can continue to cover the news without fear and intimidation.
(Courtesy TV6)
2) The Association is disappointed with and deeply concerned about CNC3’s apparent breach of a fundamental principal of journalistic ethics i.e. misleading the public. The video broadcast by CNC3 purporting to show the public the confrontation was edited to exclude the use of obscene language by the Crime Watch host.
It was CNC3’s duty to inform the public that the video had been altered. Not having done so, CNC3 omitted essential features of the confrontation and that omission amounted to misrepresentation. This left the public none the wiser until a rival media house obtained and broadcast the full recording.
This breach of duty requires CNC3 to make amends with the public it serves and the industry in which it operates.
3) MATT further notes that potential ethical conflicts are generated in this matter by the comingling of public sector communication (i.e. the TTPS) with the commercial interests of private sector media (i.e. CCN TV6).
Both law enforcement and the media serve the public interest in different ways. In that service, the public should be furnished with detailed information on the protocols that govern the Beyond the Tape programme.
(Courtesy TV6)
MATT calls on both organisations to divulge, in the public interest:
- How responsibilities for content are divided between the two organisations
- Who has responsibility for editing and approving content prior to broadcast
- Conflict-of-interest guidelines for the TTPS representative, Insp Roger Alexander, and for TV6’s assignments editor and co-host, Mr Marlan Hopkinson
- What avenues have been established for redress for citizens who have complaints about the programme and which of the two organisations has responsibility for investigating and adjudicating those complaints
- Details of the commercial arrangement between the TTPS and CCN TV6, including which entity solicits commercial advertising and what happens to the advertising revenue generated by the programme
- What quantum of revenue is generated for CCN TV6 by the programme’s favourable rating in the annual Media facts and Opinion (MFO) survey and how that revenue is distributed between the two organisations, and
- Whether hosts Insp Roger Alexander and Mr Marlan Hopkinson perform their on-air roles as aspects of their respective contractual arrangements or whether those arrangements have been expanded.
Further, journalists should be advised by the TTPS whether all views expressed on the programme are authorised by the TTPS, what happens when views expressed on the programme contradict those issued by the TTPS through its Ag Commissioner and/or official spokespeople, and whether all views expressed on the programme could be safely attributed by journalists as endorsed by the Ag Commissioner of Police.
It is imperative that these multiple issues are addressed unambiguously as they impact fundamental media ethics and have spawned problems that will require additional tax dollars, police hours, legal and other expertise to remedy.
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The Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago is the authorised representative body for local journalists in all formats.
same thing I’ve been freaking saying!!!!
the President of MATT is from CNC3 Television what else would u expect
MATT should be concerned with Ian Alleyene breaking the law, if a police officer tell yout o leave a crime scene you are bound to follow the officers orders. Shame on you MATT.
Lasana Liburd nowhere in that release does matt condemn disregarding directives from police officers…and focuses heavily on tv6…and while i am interested in the ttps role in the show….does matt have the right to make such demands.
That’s true. They should have definitely instructed journalists about that in terms of their interaction with lawmen. For sure.
I cannot believe that MATT is condoning Ian behaviour
I don’t see any Problem with BTT
What ppl want to know if it’s 1M or 2M they making?
What diff does it make
So and employee, consultant, representative of CNC3 came on air with his attorney and said categorically that he never used obscene language, CNC3 having in its possession evidence of this being a blatant lie and conveniently edited out said language but we should not accuse them of nefarious conduct?! Is only my granny dat teach me d up holder wuss dan d teef or wha?!
Ent? But as Lasana basically said, channeling Denzel: “it’s not what you know, it’s what you can prove”. (Grim smile )
Lol. You can say exactly what Nicole said. Ian Alleyne said he never used obscene language. CNC3 had possession of footage, which showed truth. But they only showed an edited version of the truth that did not have the obscenity…
All that good. But when you say CNC3 intentionally edited it to save their employee… Get yuh court clothes! Lol.
Ian intentionally edited it…CNC3 intentionally edited it
Same difference
Hey, I do this dance without a safety net. So I have to be very aware of libel laws. It has never ever made me soft. You just gotta do the two-step around the attorneys. Know how long Jack instructed Om Lalla and the clip to watch every article I do? Over a decade.
Well u can’t say it. But I go say it loud loud loud. Between Ian and CNC3 somebody made a conscious decision to air the edited footage
And before that, a conscious decision was made to edit it in furtherance of a gross deception.
Don’t forget the vehicle with the dent 🙂
Whoever edited it out is either a totally incompetent media worker that doesn’t deserve their job. Or someone who was part of an act of dishonesty to sully the reputation of a police officer.
Lasana Liburd Well if the video tape was edited in error then we should have received a clarification from CNC3, which I understand is yet to be had. I think you are however missing a salient point, even if a reporter went out to cover a story, if he or she was told by any policeman at the scene to move from the immediate surroundings, then he or she has to abide by the command which at that stage is not a request. Failure to immediately comply can lead to action commiserate with the response to the command.
That was raised elsewhere. The media worker should comply with the police and MATT should remind its workers of that responsibility.
Really MATT????. In the given scheme of things I thought as a Media elected organization the major concern would have been a story that was poorly doctored, re -packaged and presented to the public as fact.
Understood and I agree, but you take my point. MATT was already in a precarious position where the perception of a conflict of interest / lack of bias was concerned – if it’s true that their president is still affiliated with CNC3 – before they even issued a statement. With that too in the mix, their missive was unfortunately worded, to put it VERY kindly.
I didn’t say Ian Alleyne is a journalist. But MATT represents media workers and not just journalists. So once he is earning a salary from the station, he is a media worker.
I’m concerned about that edited CNC3 broadcast. And I’m also curious to know more about the TTPS’ relationship with Beyond the Tape. That’s just me.
We might get another day of ‘total policing’ if the Matt continues.
This time it will be TOTAL.
Freedom of the press does not mean disrespecting and disobeying law enforcement, if the average person behaved the way Ian did he might be still lock up with more charges and if Ian is considered a journalist then I am Editor in Cheif, get your together act and focus on issues of greater importance MATT or this is your opportunity to gain 15 minutes of relevance.
Ian is a liar he not so special he get to full ah he self
That’s a valid point Colin. It would be out of place to impute improper motives to CNC3 without hard evidence though. It would be libelous.
By that same token, MATT should probably not have said the TTPS used disproportionate force. That is speculative too.
I dance around libel all the time. You can say it but you just have to be careful.
I agree that the CNC3 matter should been addressed with more depth.
But they would have to be more skillful than to outright accuse them of fraud.
Oh hush up MATT, a bunch of jokers. Nobody respects MATT, they lost that opportunity when they could not keep their organization together.
And just for my information what right does matt have to request revenue generation information from a media house?
Ian Alleyne is a journalist? lolllll
The difference was Ian Alleyne was ostensibly representing a media house at the time.
As far as I know anyway.
Actually he was representing his friend the wife beater…
Maybe. But he was probably filming it for CNC3 anyway.
That doesn’t give him the right to use obscene language and resist being led away.
No it doesn’t. But that is only one issue here.
I’ve seen police arrest people in this country before and Ian’s arrest was a joke compared to the others.
Not surprised, ent the Head of Matt works at CNC3??
Media is really a joke in this country- because many are just looking to get a job to pay their way to something better so don’t care- and the rest looking to get free complimentary tickets to an event. Have you listened to these talk shows recently -just idle talk to fill the spaces
The truth will always prevail and set you free. CNC 3 you should be charged as well , you are just as guilty as the offender.
STEUPS!!! What is “disproportionate force”? What foolishness. You would swear Alexander beat up Ian Alleyne. This is a huge none issue.
All of ah sudden everyone in Trinidad and Tobago are police officers and all the police officers are civilians. What ah shame…………..most of us never trained in the police academy but we want to tell the police how to execute their jobs. Most of us can’t even dissaplain out children but we want to tell the police how to execute their jobs. Can’t you see that we are a sick and lawless nation.
Discipline
Well said Mr St. Bernard. Now others trying to be teachers.
Well said Colin Clarke
MATT wasting ppl time………..
Further, in MATT’s release their only criticism of CNC3 focused on the media house’s failure to notify the public that the video had been edited:
“It was CNC3’s duty to inform the public that the video had been altered. Not having done so, CNC3 omitted essential features of the confrontation and that omission amounted to misrepresentation.”
How about the fact that the video was edited to begin with AND THEN APPROVED for broadcast? To me, that’s as egregious, if not more so. Add to that the “street knowledge” of who sponsors Crime Watch, and thus, by extension, adds to the coffers of CNC3, and that’s why folk are so irate about the seemingly disproportionate grilling of TV6.
Matt is ah waste ah time
Lasana, I hear you eh, but on principle they should have as zealously spoken out against that said media house’s apparent culpability in perpetrating a fraud on the citizens of T&T, and in the process calling a police officer a liar.
Okay, I still have to go over the specifics of the release. Today is a working day for me.
But to use a wide brush stroke: If someone representing a media house goes out to do a story and gets roughed up by the police, shouldn’t MATT take note?
We might argue over the specifics and whether they asked more of one media house and less of the other and so on. But I can see why, in principle, MATT would have felt the need to say something.
I think we all need clarification of said gentleman’s role and function to be represented by MATT. If he is representing a particular media house I have never heard him saying he is reporting for or representing anywhere or anything esle but his show. If shots from whatever he covered are used during nightly news or any other time it is voiced over by another reporter. Does he have a show that is paid for to be able to air or it is a program from said media house? These need to be answered. As for any other media representative being mishandled by the police then I can understand MATT’s stand on this.
He represents a media house. Ian Alleyne is able to join MATT if he chooses. MATT has become a bit more inclusive now.
He isn’t a journalist. But once he earns even part of his living from a media house, he counts.
One final thing: if he represents a media house then why the disclaimer before his show? And I have never heard him say he is from that media house but always from his show. Then whatever happens during the coverage for his show should be his responsibility fully.
Honestly, I can’t say as I don’t know all the specifics. I know it a tv station hires you to do a show, then you’re affiliated to the media and would be protected by MATT.
So I would expect that he should be protected even though he isn’t a journalist.
But I can’t say for sure.
But is he hired by the media house? Does he fund his own show and buy the airtime? Does he split his advertising time and allow the station to sell a chunk of it to finance the airtime? I’d be surprised if he relinquished his autonomy to become an employee. Also, any half decent cnc3 lawyer would advise against employment to avoid liability. Considering that CCN was already dragged to court because of him. He’s an entertainer not a journalist.
Well, that is an excellent point and I really don’t know the answer. And it is very relevant of course.
Jabari Peter Bem Fraser, do you know?
Lasana Liburd having said that, if their shows fall under the mandate of the News Depts. then an argument can be made that they are journalists. I suppose. And the broadcaster can only avoid a certain amount of liability if they’re independent contractors. They still have to adhere to the broadcast code or face damages and possible revocation of license, I imagine, in extreme cases. People forget that Broadcasters don’t own the airwaves they occupy. The people do and the gov’t issues licenses, for a time period, on their behalf. So the broadcaster, no matter what, still has to take responsibility for any breech of the Broadcast Code. As happened with TV6. If I remember correctly both the host and the station were taken to court separately for the same incident?
Yes. That’s right Cherise. It is a complex issue. I think clarity on several things related to this will be welcomed.
Franciscans Hawkins you are bias,you not asking why the tape was edited and why Ian Alleyne lied
But MATT did ask about that.
There are conflict of interest in MATT as well i.e the president isn’t she an employee of cnc 3
There are CCN employees in the MATT executive too. Maybe even more CCN employees than CNC3 ones.
Thanks for the info. Once it transparent that is my issue.
The MATT president wouldn’t have put out the statement by herself. That isn’t how it works. There would have been some consensus.
Now I can’t speak for the details of the release because I haven’t gotten that far yet.
Did they ask for clarification when Ian Alleyne was on tv6? They should investigate CNC3 and GML for their coverage of the story.
They did say there was something worth investigating there too.
How about trying to find out if Sheron was a sponsor of Ian Alleyne or the show? And why did CNC3 broadcast an edited/ ‘doctored’ tape which misrepresented the position of the Police. Was it to discredit the police exercise by discrediting the Inspector? Was this a media war waged by CNC 3 to get ‘one up’ on Tv 6?
Thanks .
Look whosoever on de MATT board should resign with immediate effect!!!
I believe the MATT president is a member of staff at CNC3 .. SO SAD
MATT who are you,what is your problem are you really concerned,hands off please.
MATT serious? I didn’t know Ian Alleyne is a journalist. And why does CNC3 have a disclaimer before his show. Then all Trinidadian journalists should have one before opening their mouths or writing stories. The average journalist on hearing a command from an officer to leave a site will, but that individual is what ‘superb ultra’ Come on MATT answer this is he employed by CNC3? How is his show run and funded? If he is an employee of CNC3 then they should be held responsible for him totally.
Isn’t MATT’s president employed @ CNC3? What are her views on CNC3 allegedly misrepresenting the facts?
My thoughts exactly. She seems to be singing for her supper. Are there no impartial voices in the media ?
All MATT executives are employed by media houses. MATT doesn’t pay. And there might be more CCN employees than CNC3 employees there too. I do know that there are CCN employees on the executive.
I won’t go as far as to impute improper motives here, even if we might not agree on everything in the release.
They pick and choose who they want in the membership now
CNC3 and (%.% both governmnet stations
MATT President should resign
and work where?
Nutsvendours of the media world -MATT
ironic MATT are bullie to their own
why MATT doh close down?
Shut up you MUTT !!!! Sorry I meant MATT ???
MATT too has let us down. When will it end, Lord, when.
Apparently this is a verrrrry serious scenario so much so that it requires the concentrated energies of ALL citizens. People, people stop what you are doing this needs urgent attention, time, nationwide discussion, forums, marches, prayers. What ever you have to contribute please do so cause apparently we ent have nutten better to do here!!!
Yawn ??
That disproportionate question is nonsense, what they need to focus on is in what capacity was Alexander at the scene – police officer, TV show host or both and if both does it constitute a conflict of interest?
Vernal who really cares
That’s precisely the problem …. no one cares.
I dont
He is on the show at the behest of the TTPS therefore he is a policeman. I think that the focus should be on thedoctored video as knowingly doing that should be an offense especilly since Ian Alleyne and his ‘noted’ attorney are using that to claim wrongful arrest. It is time that people understand that they should keep out of the way of the TTPS when it is doing its job,including its PR for the TV6 show.
Didn’t the MATT release ask questions about the relationship between the TTPS and TV6/Beyond The Tape? I was at an event and haven’t gone over all the details yet. But I’m pretty sure that the release raised some questions that we were asking ourselves Vernal.
Yeah they did.
Seems that MATT thinks that police officers are like kindergarten teachers in that when you disregard their instructions they will use gentle persuasion. Steupss. MATT should be more concerned with a media house lying & trying to cover up evidence.
What MATT should look at is the Standing Order and Law governing arrest and realize that is the force necessary to arrest a man who was resisting the police and not taking instructions, Insp. Alexander had to use firce to remove after he didn’t comply with the police instuctions.
I couldn’t have said it any more better than that
MATT stepping out of their jurisdiction, you cannot tell the police how to deal with a person spitting cuss, & pulling away their hands saying ” Leggo mi #$%& hands. MATT you are getting yourselves in muddy waters, this maybe deeper than what meets the eye, does MATT know what was the operations being carried out @ the time at that house? Bat in your crease, leave police business alone.
Pc Gomez you don’t comment often but when you do you make the most sense. *standing ovation*
Thank you.
Pc Gomez U wukking! Well said!
No problem questioning the TTPS relationship with the media house but to question the straight forward arrest of a person fouling a stated item in the statutes is ridiculous
Comply then complain, straight up, no arguments with me, we have become a lawless society, everybody knows what is right, yet things are going hay wire. I hold no briefs for the police, but as I said above, comply then complain, you want to fight the police on their turf? feel free
They complain when they think the police is not doing their job when they do their job they complain that the police is harsh and they using unnecessary force, what do they really want.
Smh.
This drama,just replaced what should be the main focus..a Badly abused woman with small kids and seemed to be threatened by the posting of a gun etc..when will the proper degree of help for her be shown?
Yes man Tara, clearly we missing the point!
I feel not enough is being done to safeguard this young woman who is in a very dire situation..where cops and media are redirecting the focus!!!
On point Tara Assing…but, some would say we are playing psychic….that’s how we handle crimes in T & T… always create a scapegoat and they good to go…see! the POS Mayor paid the price by leaving his job for another crime incident…but who cares we like it so!!.
MATT also asking TV6 a shitload of questions about ad revenue…questions it isnt asking CNC3. A ten thousand word essaye to lay blame at TV6’s feet and one paragraph to chide CNC3.
Bull friggeries.
it would seem that they feel that they entitled to get answers…hahahahaha ..wish them luck…
Yeah I doh think anybody farting on them at this point!
And the MATT President is…?
Now you know its reached circus levels . The convention of clowns have spoken
Really! So much shit going on with the government and this is their release!