The Trinidad Guardian's editorial independence may be under threat

When the owners of the newspaper asked the editor to formulate a new editorial policy, it prompted a walkout by senior journalists
Trinidad Guardian
The Trinidad Guardian is well known for its investigative reporting, but their are fears that editorial independence at the paper may be under threat. Public Domain

Two weeks after leaving the Guardian in the UK to join the Trinidad Guardian, I have already had my first taste of the similarities and differences between the two. In rather dramatic circumstances.

Let's start with the similarities. Both are long-standing institutions founded in 1821 and 1917 respectively, both papers produce respected quality journalism but rank low in the tabloid-dominated circulation charts, both follow a policy of digitalising their products for the 21st century, both have respected Oxbridge-educated editors who aren't scared to chase important public interest stories.

Both have broken big stories in recent years. The Trinidad Guardian forced the government to repeal Section 34 – a law seen as an attempt to protect government financiers from prosecution. The paper also extensively covered allegations about former Fifa vice president and ex Trinidad government minister Jack Warner.

So how do they differ? In short, the nature of their ownership. At the UK Guardian, editorial independence is part of the core values of the body it is owned by, the Scott Trust. At the Trinidad Guardian, editorial independence is strived for, and largely achieved, while being balanced against the business requirements of the company it is owned by, ANSA McAL. Until recently, this balance has erred on the side of editorial freedom. The Trinidad Guardian has been free to pursue high-profile, politically sensitive stories about the ruling government and its ministers.

Last week, however, its editor-in-chief, Judy Raymond, was politely asked by board members at ANSA McAL board to leave the newsroom for a period of a month to formulate a new editorial policy with her managing director. This prompted a walkout by three senior journalists in what was seen as a protest to protect freedom of the press.

There is no right way or wrong way to run a newspaper. Owners and editors determine the values, objectives and style of a publication. Readers and advertisers decide whether they like those values and objectives enough to invest their money in buying or subsidising it.

It would be nice to imagine all journalism could exist in a bubble untainted by commercial interests, but investigative journalism on this scale costs money.

The Trinidad Guardian relies heavily on government advertising revenue, but has remained committed to investigating ministerial corruption. In this context, it is fearless journalism.

Many people in Trinidad believe the government put pressure on the board of the Trinidad Guardian to prevent further damaging articles coming out. In a TV6 station poll, 99% of viewers said they thought there had been political interference at the paper. Prime minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar strongly denies this. The full truth may never be known, but the walkout protest by journalists demonstrates a strong desire to uphold the freedom of the press in Trinidad and their decisions were supported by the Media Association of Trinidad and Tobago and trade unions.

Press freedom in Trinidad has ebbed and flowed. In 1996, a breakdown in relations between the Guardian and the ruling party led to a political boycott of the paper. The Guardian's editor was replaced and the editorial policy altered, becoming visibly more supportive of whichever party happened to be in power at the time.

In Trinidad, a country of 1.3 million, the relationship between newspapers and politics is far more intense than in the UK. Print newspapers are still a big part of daily life. Unlike many other parts of the world, print circulation is increasing. Everybody reads at least one newspaper each day, many people read more than one.

Politicians are closer to the public here too, regularly seen on walkabouts in their constituencies where local people closely scrutinise their policies and more importantly the distribution of money and public contracts. Newspapers, if brought under control, can be valuable mouthpieces for politicians. Something that editors like Raymond are keen to avoid.

The other daily papers, the Trinidad Express and Newsday, also publish damaging stories for the government and both say they are committed to unbiased journalism.

At the Guardian, managing director Gabriel Faria says the new policy will seek to "improve the standard of our journalism, to do more background checks to make sure we provide a full perspective on all the stories".

Media watchdogs, readers and voters are hoping that "full perspective" does not mean turning away from investigating the truth.

Joshua Surtees is a former editorial researcher in the Guardian's audience department who now works for the Trinidad Guardian as a journalist