by Michael Bascombe
It was hardly surprising that
when junior track stars Kirani James and Nichkelia John returned home from the
IAAF World Youth Championships in Italy, the spotlight at the Maurice Bishop
International Airport quickly shifted, not to their performances, but to the
absence of their parents at the welcome reception.
Ironically, the same media houses
that gave limited prominence to the athletes’ achievements in their headlines
and broadcasts were quick to manufacture controversy over what was, at best, an
oversight. The narrative moved away from excellence and toward distraction.
To their credit, the Grenada
Athletics Association (GAA) responded responsibly, issuing an apology to the
parents for the unintentional omission. That level of accountability deserves
commendation.
Yet, the inconsistency is
glaring. Just two months earlier, a group of athletes, also led by Kirani James,
returned from the Junior CARIFTA Games to a similar reception at the same
venue, again without parents present. There was no outcry then. No headlines.
No debate.
This selective outrage
underscores a troubling reality: our support for sportsmen and women is often
shallow and inconsistent. We celebrate them in moments of triumph, but fail to
honour them meaningfully or consistently.
Consider Kirani James’ journey.
Emerging from the challenging “Gun Battle” community in St John, his story is
one of resilience, discipline, and triumph over adversity. These are narratives
that should be highlighted continuously, not only when medals are won, but as
part of a broader effort to inspire and inform.
Instead, sensationalism too often
drives the news agenda.
One sports administrator recently
recounted how a journalist showed intense interest in a fabricated story
involving violence in the same community, eagerly seeking details and contacts.
Yet, that same level of curiosity was absent when it came to verifying results
or gathering information about Kirani’s performance from official sources.
That contrast speaks volumes.
The trend extends beyond
athletics. In a recent example, a local television station led its sports
segment with the headline: “Football season opens in front of empty stands.”
There was no attempt to explore the reasons behind the change in format for the
season’s opening, nor were match results provided, despite games being played.
This is not merely an editorial
oversight; it reflects a deeper issue within sports journalism in Grenada.
Responsibility must rest with
media managers, who have allowed this decline to persist without corrective
action. There was a time when sports coverage was structured, resourced, and
respected. The Grenada Broadcasting Network (GBN) once employed full-time
sports reporters under the leadership of experienced professionals, ensuring
consistent coverage and updates on local and regional events.
That system has eroded, and the
void remains largely unfilled.
Today, there appears to be a
shortage of dedicated, full-time sports reporters across both electronic and
print media. This gap has inevitably affected the quality, depth, and
consistency of sports coverage.
Yet, the expertise still exists.
Grenada has produced a generation
of respected sports journalists, commentators, photographers, and experts who helped shape
the industry in the 1980s and 1990s. Individuals such as Alvin Clouden
(photography), Ian “Flyers” Redhead, Trevor Thwaites, Ray Roberts, Harold
Pysadee, Rawle Titus, Michael Bascombe, Irvine Simon, Hamlet Mark, Derek Seon,
Cheney Joseph, Pele Darbeau, Anthony “Jericho” Greenidge, Paul Roberts, Selwin
Noel, Carlos Thomas, Stephenson Worme, Lester Smith, Claudius George, Lincoln
“Toro” Depradine, and many others have contributed significantly to the
development of sports media.
Their experience should not be
overlooked. It should be harnessed.
There was also a time when sports
programming held a central place in the media landscape. Initiatives like the
Sunday Sports programme, the “Brain of Sports” Quiz, and Saturday Sports
Special created platforms for analysis, engagement, and education.
Today, while programmes like
Sunday Sports, hosted by Harold Pysadee, continue to provide valuable content,
much of this work goes unnoticed, despite being offered freely to local
stations.
This lack of recognition is
symptomatic of a broader issue: the undervaluing of sports journalism and those
who contribute to it.
1 comment:
...that is quite unfortunate. Next stop: Excuses. Excuse #1: budget. #2 interest. #3 Can't find qualified reporters. There is a Grenadian named Mike McQuilkin who can tell you stories that would make your head spin.
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