Government could set up its own TV channel in order to get its message out.

Her thoughts on the issue -- and at this point they seem only to be thoughts and not policy -- stem from criticism of the Government's first 100 days broadcast and document. She has said the Government will also look at other ways of going "direct to the people'', including through the Internet and through longer Government-paid broadcasts.

All governments, and not just this one, have eternally bemoaned their inability to get their messages out to the public. Much of this has to do with the different roles that politicians and the media play. A government has the responsibility of managing a Country's affairs and, in the case of party politics, fulfilling its election promises within the political philosophy that it believes is best for the people of the Country.

It has the right to let the people know what it has achieved or intends to achieve as it goes forward, as well as to address the public directly on matters of public importance.

The media, both print, broadcast and now online, has the job of explaining and presenting a government's programme, having first looked at it critically and tested it for accuracy and honesty and effectiveness.

It also has to dig out the facts and problems that governments, businesses and other individuals would prefer to keep well hidden, but which are in the public interest.

This is part of the media's job. It should also present a wide variety of opinions, given that different people can come up with widely varying points of view, even when they are presented with the same set of facts.

Most importantly, it has to ensure its reporting is fair and accurate. This does not mean that statements and announcements should be presented without scrutiny, but that both sides of an issue should be presented on the assumption that the readers are independent and intelligent enough to make their own decisions on who or what is right.

It would be an act of supreme arrogance to claim that The Royal Gazette , or any other media outlet in Bermuda or around the world, achieves this in every news story every day. But that is the goal of this newspaper and in the end, it will be judged on its success by its readers.

Given that, it would be dangerous for the Government to assume that simply because it has its own outlet for disseminating information which has not been scrutinised that it will be automatically believed and accepted.

In a democracy and even in a dictatorship, people know when they are not getting the full story. As Abraham Lincoln is reported to have said: "You can fool all of the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.'' That is why Opposition Leader Pamela Gordon's fears of the public being brainwashed may be exaggerated -- but it should also serve as a cautionary tale for Government if it is going to give serious consideration to an expensive and potentially unnecessary venture into the world of televison.