Could Trinidad and Tobago’s Media Shake Up Usher in a Return to ‘Total Local’ Programming? · Global Voices
Screenshot of an old Trinidad and Tobago Television (TTT) station ID, taken from a YouTube video by Media Arts.
Trinidad and Tobago's television and film industry practitioners wonder whether they are on the verge of a return to the glory days of original local programming.
On August 24, 2017, the sector was shaken up by an announcement from <PERSON>, <PERSON>, that Caribbean New Media Group (CNMG) — the state television station that replaced Trinidad and Tobago Television (TTT) in 2005 — would close, along with Government Information Services Limited (GISL), the government’s primary media company.
With the combined assets of CNMG and GISL, TTT has morphed into a media ‘Lazarus’ resurrection story, complete with a mandate to ensure “a bias toward local programming”. <PERSON> said the anticipated move emerged thanks to a recommendation from the 2015 consultation on state media. He added that even after 12 years since its closure, TTT still commanded a level of nostalgia and brand recognition that CNMG was never able to achieve. Still, journalist <PERSON> stressed she was “more interested in the content than the name.”
While the new local content approach is making Trinidad and Tobago filmmakers and media producers dizzy with possibilities, state media employees share concerns over job security, especially in a slow economy. The lion's share of Trinidad and Tobago's gross domestic product (GDP) lies in the energy sector, and worldwide oil and natural gas prices have remained low for some time. The closure will also affect staff at two radio stations (99.1 Next FM and 91.1 Talk City).
Mixed reactions poured in from both netizens and industry stakeholders. Facebook user <PERSON> saw the value in the promise of restarting local programming:
Facebook user <PERSON>'s status update: “Back to our roots to grow our shoots!” 2017
Others were more cautious. 957
On Twitter, <PERSON> tweeted the concerns of state media staff:
3/3: Staff will have to reapply for jobs at new entity. No word if the same CEO and Board will remain.#WheresWendell#Newsauce
— <PERSON> (@rhodabharath) August 24, 2017
In light of the station's hefty budget allocations, <PERSON> has been critical of CNMG's current Chief Executive Officer (CEO) <PERSON>'s ability to keep the station relevant and competitive. Suggesting that staff morale was low, she added:
The Board, the CEO and Head of News has gots to GEAUX if the new TTT is to succeed.#WheresWendell #Newsauce pic.twitter.com/fWTBpfy0mp
— <PERSON> (@rhodabharath) August 24, 2017
State television or government-run station?
<PERSON>, a former CNMG employee who now works for a foreign television station, spoke with Global Voices to confirm the change was “a lot to process” and came as a surprise, especially since the government had the state media consultation report in hand since 2015. This state of limbo was one of the reasons <PERSON> decided to leave.
Still, she acknowledges the country does need a local content station. In one Facebook status update, she wrote:
CNMG was supposed to be a totally local station, FYI.
We need to really honest and clear as to why they deviated from that mandate.
But it is absolutely essential that we have local content on our television
<PERSON>, who has a background as a sociologist, explained: “Media is a socialisation tool and when you look at television in Trinidad and Tobago, it's very American — so we grew up in this country and we don't know who we are or what we believe in.”
Grey also makes a clear distinction between state television and a government-run station. “I'm hoping this government understands that they need to have some sort of system in place to protect the company from government interference — especially if they come out of power,” she explains. Commending the move as a step in the right direction, she cautioned: “We need to see if they're thinking seriously about supporting local content and putting things in place to protect the company in terms of finances, etc.”
As TTT resurrects, questions arise
Minister <PERSON> held a press conference (shared via Facebook Live) on August 25, where he took heated questions from the media. 957