Government will use electronic media after axing Royal Gazette deals
Premier Ewart Brown yesterday championed the electronic media as the best way for Government to get its message out — but Cabinet would not reveal the full methodology behind its thinking in axing its Royal Gazette deals.
A day after Government announced it was withdrawing its newspaper subscriptions to this newspaper — and cutting its print advertising — the Premier praised the Internet and radio as means of communication.
But before this newspaper could ask exactly how Cabinet came to the conclusion that it is "not cost effective or penetrative enough to rely heavily on print advertising in an electronically advanced community", the Premier's brief interview with The Royal Gazette was ended by his Press Secretary Glenn Jones.
Our e-mailed question — specifically asking what methodology was used in making the decision — also went unanswered yesterday.
Asked if advertising in the electronic media would be more valuable than in a daily newspaper selling 14,000 copies a day, the Premier told this newspaper: "It remains to be seen. It has never been done."
Pressed on whether the electronic media was the best way to get the message out, he said: "I think so.
"The whole world is moving toward the Internet and in Bermuda we have seen in the last few years the radio is an important medium for Bermuda. There will be an increase in radio time purchased."
The Premier has previously publicly referred to Hott 107.5 — owned by Progressive Labour Party MP Glenn Blakeney and with PLP Senator Thaao Dill as its morning show presenter — as "a friend".
Cabinet's statement on Tuesday said subscriptions to the daily would be axed, but did not specify any other publications facing the chop.
Yesterday, asked if other publications would be affected, Dr. Brown said: "Yes, we are cutting back on media, period." He explained that Government would ensure it gets the best benefits for its dollar.
Government has stated it spent almost $800,000 on subscriptions and advertising in the print media during the last fiscal year, $42,000 of which went on newspaper subscriptions.
It also pledged to reduce public spending by cutting back on Government travel and its vehicle fleet, but has not said how much it expects to save in those areas.
Asked how much Government spends on its cars, the Premier said yesterday: "I do not have those numbers. (Works) Minister (Derrick) Burgess is compiling those as we speak. It's not just the cost of purchase of the cars, but the maintenance."
This newspaper spoke with the Premier after a press conference on a different matter, after that conversation finished the Premier left the scene in his car which was preceded by an escort vehicle.
Yesterday, Shadow Finance Minister Bob Richards said the saving of $42,000 on Royal Gazette subscriptions was a "drop in the bucket" in a $1 billion Budget.
He questioned the motives behind the cancellation and suggested people would still read the paper even if Government preferred them not to.
"Most of us in Bermuda have a steady diet of The Royal Gazette whether we like what's in it or not," said Mr. Richards.
"Without Government subscriptions in future, maybe the civil servants will dip into their own pockets. It's still going to be bought.
"It seems a bit ridiculous. I guess they are just trying to indicate how much they don't like The Royal Gazette in an effort to be punitive. That's not good, with all the Right To Know stuff going around.
"It seems to go against every sort of modern principle in terms of freedom of the press. Any politician who has been around for any length of time will cite an instance where they were very unhappy with the coverage by the press."
Asked if he had ever been unhappy with Royal Gazette coverage, Mr. Richards replied: "Absolutely." He said on many occasions his speeches in the Senate had either been under-represented or misrepresented.
However, he added: "But that's what you sign up for. You make your point better as time goes by; you get better at it.
"The alternative to a free press is something you don't want to consider. That's very undemocratic.
"It's one of those necessary evils." Mr. Richards added that the cost cutting proposals in general seemed "half baked".
"I think that if they are going to cut these costs, they should have been reflected in the Budget," he said. "They really don't have to effectuate any of this until next year. I guess they could go ahead and do it, but they don't have to back it up. The amount authorised last month is going to happen for the next year.
"I don't know if this indicates a lack of planning or what."
Do you know of examples where Government wastes money? Have you got any ideas where Government can save money? Email arighttoknow@royalgazette.bm or write a letter to editor.
