Social commentator Rolfe Commissiong has vowed he will not be gagged after revealing ZBM news executives tried to stop him recommending newspaper articles to talk show listeners.

Over the last few Friday's Mr. Commissiong has been calling the Everest DaCosta radio programme to suggest columnists that had written pieces of interest but he said Bermuda Broadcasting Company bigwigs accused him of advertising those newspapers.

He said: "My objective is to get Bermudians reading, they don't read enough and beyond that I want to get them discussing the very, very important issues pertaining to the country."

He said: "In real terms newspapers are not in competition, VSB is. People who read the newspapers will still watch the news that night."

He said other talk show callers referred to articles in the paper.

"This is like a blast from the past, the old Bermuda. It's another example of how the new Bermuda is not being created fast enough."

He said political opponents could have behind the attempt to stop him recommending pieces he liked.

"But hey they are my picks, if they don't like them they can suggest their own picks. I am not going to stop it. I am going to do it again on Friday."

However ZBM news director Jim McKey said: "Everybody does it. CNN quotes the New York Times. Good Lord!

"We certainly don't have any comment one way or the other about it if he wants to do it. He's probably making points for listeners who happen to have copies of the papers to go to."