2008 Speeches
Presentation of Investigative Journalist Barbara A. Walsh (June 24, 2008)
Chateau Caribbean
Belize City
Good evening. It is my pleasure to introduce you today to Ms. Barbara Walsh, a recognized expert on independent, investigative journalism.
First, I would like to personally thank her for coming to Belize from the northern state of Maine. As you can see from her credentials, she is an experienced journalist, a talented writer and has a lot of experience to share on the topic of conducting thorough and unbiased media reporting, something vital to the functioning of any democracy.
Ms. Walsh has over 25 years of experience as a journalist for different news organizations in Massachusetts, Florida, and Maine. She has conducted comprehensive and influential reporting on issues such as flaws in prison systems, alcoholism, healthcare for mentally ill children, domestic violence, and poverty. Ms. Walsh has received several national, state, and regional awards for her work, including a Pulitzer Prize for her year-long series on a convicted killer and furlough escapee whose crimes drew attention to flaws in the Massachusetts prison system. Her insightful journalism has prompted federal and state investigations, led to changed laws, and helped create deeper awareness of the issues that shape her community.
An important indicator of a strong democracy is that it protects and fosters a free press, and Belize is no exception. In a free society, the media is a crucial check on both the public and private sectors. By enabling citizens to be informed, you can encourage transparency and accountability in government and let the public know how well their public officers are performing and how effectively their taxpayer money is being spent on their behalf. You have the power to push for investigations to expose and hold accountable those who abuse the public trust. By exposing malfeasance and corruption, which act as a tax on the poor and retard economic development, you help ensure the freedoms of all Belizeans. By providing thorough and impartial press coverage, the media can be a catalyst for positive change.
At my Senate confirmation in 2005, I was asked about the vitality of democracy in Belize. Although I had not yet served in the country, I was able to note the existence of a “vigorous free press” based on my viewing the Channel 7 and 5 websites. Having lived here now almost 3 years, I have a more experienced perspective. There certainly is a free press and I have been impressed by the zeal of the reporters I encounter. It’s not an easy job you have and I attribute a lot to the good reporting you do to the robust competition among the various media outlets. Free competition is sometimes tough on us, but we all know it makes us strive for to do a better job and makes any profession stronger.
But I note a tendency oftentimes to emphasize topical reporting over lengthy journalistic investigation and in some instances a tendency to divert focus from the fundamental issue at hand. I have also noted the frequency with which criminal cases are dismissed or not pursued because the police do not have files prepared.
As an example, we follow human trafficking issues. In February last year, some police officers were apprehended on suspicion of human trafficking. When the case was brought forward for trial in March of this year, the cases were dismissed because the police had not prepared the investigative files. The media coverage of this struck me as too cursory – case dismissed, end of story. Yet the situation called for a through investigative report on the police inquiry and the larger problem of effective prosecution in the criminal justice system. I do not pretend to judge the guilt or innocence of the people accused, but stories like this call out for bringing forth the facts to raise public awareness and to insist on corrective actions. This is true for any number of alleged scandals that have been exposed by your work – from the DFC hearings to missing passports. Such reporting does a disservice because it feeds the cynicism of the citizenry and their loss of confidence in their society.
All forms of media everywhere, whether television, radio, or print, struggle to present the public with unbiased, comprehensive, and accurate reporting and a media market like Belize’s has its unique challenges for conducting investigative journalism. It is our intention that the workshops to be held in the next few days will contribute to an exchange of ideas - ideas that can help the Belizean media to grow in influence and provide an opportunity to build relationships between you and other journalists in the United States. My hope is that every participant gains something from these exchanges and comes away resolved to be even more tenacious in investigating each news story. I am delighted that the United States Embassy is able to sponsor Ms. Walsh’s trip to Belize and I want to thank the BIMA and members, owners, and editors of the local media for your support in joining in what I hope will be a valuable exchange.
Thank you. Please join me now in welcoming Ms. Barbara Walsh.