Sorry Trinidad Express, We Need Real News

Why Mama I Switching To The Trinidad Guardian

"Tonz, did you get my newspaper?".

My mother called out to me as she usually do every morning. She is a new junkie, an addict to news; newspaper. TV and radio.  Recently, she figured out how to get more news on her smart phone.

In my humble opinion, citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, along with the rest of the world were all totally blown away when Donald Trump won the elections in the US.

We in the Caribbean, loved Obama and anything he say we should do, we do.  If he ran in the Caribbean he would lose.

Since then, the Trinidad Express has been milking the elections. Almost like creating news from speculations. The Donald said that as soon as he took office he will be deporting over 11 million illegal aliens.

The Express kept busting headlines, one after the other, almost as if they want to make the populace jittery about what Trump will do when he takes office in January.

Here's the headline story for yesterday Trump To Deport 3 Million with the implication that we in Trinidad and Tobago will be faced with receiving an overwhelming number of deportee.

Maybe the circulation increased yesterday because today there is a new headline. the Express Editor in Chief is on a roll.

Today's head line: "No Room For Deportees" with a sub headline that PM Rowley saying that all citizens has to be accepted.  Like they expected him to say, no these deportees are no longer welcomed in T&T.

But here is the real story behind the head line, talk about scaring people: Deportees Already Coming
Think about it, a deportee just decides that since Trump won he got on a plane and is coming home. What nonsense. After reading that you will understand.

The story implies that people who are in the US illegally, not deportee, maybe coming home now.  (Remember it's 3 million of them)

Why would the Express do this?

Even today's editorial is all about Trump On The Backs of Angry Voters

Need to report relevant news? Need to increase circulation? Sincerely believing that what is happen in the US now must be important to T&T citizens?  Whatever the intention the affect is that this topic becomes the topic of the day.

Wrong direction but let's go for the ride.

Imagine if you are illegal in the US and you are in touch with home, you would be trembling, feeling really apprehensive.

But people here are thinking, we have enough problems, we don't need more criminal deportees here.  Asking PM Rowley answers about whether he would accept deportees is another attempt to create news from nothing. .

We need answers on:

• Life Sport and the over $400 million dollars?
• On the 8 HDC officials indicted now at the DPP for prosecution?
• What is happening with the lands sold and leased in Chargaramas?
• Dana Seethahal assassination or hit whichever you prefer, even
• The price of oil and what we are doing to diversify the economy

This could go on for awhile, but we will stop there....

We are not going to see 3 million deportees here.  Far from it. In addition, the National Security Minister Dillion can make inquiries to the US now and find out the number of Trinis now facing deportation.

Instead the Express is attempting to scare the citizens of T&T with non news.

Yes there must be preparations made, and yes  Mr. Wayne Chance should be included in the preparations.  But please, don't use the good he has been doing to sensationalize the news.

Tell us what we want to hear about, not make up stories with no real bases. What Donald Trump says does not constitute a national disaster, don't sensationalize prospective possibilities to sell newspapers; this is news, things that happened already, not fortune telling.

Today even my mother says she is fed up with the Express and the news they are reporting.  Last  Sunday and Monday she read the Guardian and felt the news was more relevant.  She is seriously thinking about switching to the Guardian for her daily paper.

People want news real news, so many people feel that hearing the news keeps them in touch alive. But when the media fabricates news to increase circulation, Houston has a problem.

Here is an example of the news that should be news but is buried on page 9 if today's Trinidad Express.  1000 New Diabetic Cases Annually in T&T  Doctors Say we are "2 times the global average".  No link because it was trumped by politics, more important how many deportees to expect,

To learn more about the problem we are having with diabetes here  read the Trinidad Newsday article "11 Among Top Countries With Diabetes"

The media should hold themselves responsible to report real news, not what they think will happen,  Leave that to the priest and pastors in the land.

Vote for real news. .

'

Trending Topics In The Caribbean & TnT

Important Because We Read It

In case you did not read previous post, the Caribbean Blogger will be curating articles and reports from various publishers throughout the Caribbean, centering on Trinidad and Tobago.



Today we have a special invitation for you to join the Caribbean Journal, usually stuffed with very interesting, relevant and topical articles they traverse the islands in the Caribbean to share what is important to Caribbean people.  Take a look at a selection of articles from the...

The Caribbean Journal

A Major New Port in Haiti:  A major new port is now operational in Haiti.

Port Lafito, the brainchild of the GB Group, is the country’s first Panamax Port. It was inaugurated in a ceremony last Thursday. It is located about five minutes from Port-au-Prince International Airport.  Read More

This Top Cruise Line is Adding a Homeport in Havana:  A major cruise line is adding a new homeport in Havana. MSC Cruises, the world’s largest privately-owned global cruise line, will begin homeporting its MSC Opera in Havana in December. The 2,120-guest-ship will homeport for the winter 2015-16 seaon to offer 16 Caribbean cruises  Read More

In CARICOM a  Push for Creativity: Private sector investment and entrepreneurship are key elements for sustainable growth and fighting unemployment in the Caribbean, CARICOM Secretary-General Ambassador Irwin LaRocque, said this week at the opening of the 36th Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government. Read More

The Dailies

The Express

 HELP FOR BABIES OF RAPE  

Trinis climb world's highest mountains to raise funds Two brave Trinidadians have embarked on a mission to climb the world's highest peaks in a bid to build a home for pregnant teens and children in this country. The T&T mountain climbers are 29-year-old Safiyyah Ali and 30-year-old Henry Mungalsingh.

The Newsday:

RAIN WREAKS HAVOC

 HEAVY rainfall and strong winds resulted in major flooding in various parts of Central, South and East Trinidad, with the roofs of several houses partially blown off in several  Read more 


The Trinidad Guardian

Prisons officers uneasy over relocation of inmates

Just over 100 prisoners were relocated from the Golden Grove Remand Yard and at the Maximum Security Prison (MSP) in Arouca in an exercise that started at about 9 am on Saturday and lasted for about six hours, ending at 3 pm. It is believed that more prisoners are expected to be moved today. Read More

TRINIDAD Y TOBAGO: Ramesh, Abdulah launch Citizens Intervention 

TRINIDAD Y TOBAGO: Ramesh, Abdulah launch Citizens Intervention / News day / Addressing a joint news conference at Royal Hotel, Royal Road, San Fernando yesterday, Abdulah said the meetings would be held under the banner, "Citizens Intervention", with the first meeting scheduled to take place on Thursday July 9 at the Plaisance Park Community Centre, Pointe-a-Pierre from 6pm. Read More

Why Are Businesses In T&T Still Using Web1.0?

There is ample evidence to confirm the hypothesis that business owners in Trinidad and Tobago do not fully appreciate how the internet can affect their bottom lines.

The major internet service provider in Trinidad, TSTT, has done extensive research to determine exactly who is online but...

Let's not rely on statistic because it only tells one side of the story. You should be aware, however, that according to TSTT research there are approximately 224,000 people in this country connected to available internet service providers. In a population of approximately 1.3 million people that represents just under a third of the population. What are the implications?

It can be deduced that the online market is large enough to include clients for any business. The fact that almost one third of their potential local customers are connected to the internet is enough reason for every business to pay attention to what's happening online.

It's an unwise business decision to ignore this balloning online segment of the population. In fact, right now we know that online connections are increasing exponentially. in a few years, with the reducing cost of access to ISPs, the number of Trinbagonians online may increase even faster and in greater numbers than what has been forecasted. Doesn’t it make sense that businesses begin the process now?

Here is the thing. Unlike the general population, most businesses are connected to the internet, most not all. The problem is that the majority is still using Web1.0 strategies. That is, local businesses primarily use the internet for sending and receiving emails.

In addition, most of the existing websites, the exception being entertainment sites, are not interactive and not developed to convert visitors to paying customers. The more astute local online businesses drive traffic to their sites with the primary goal of generating revenue from advertisers.

Only a small handful has any definable online business model.

The next time you read the Trinidad Express, Guardian or Newsday scan the advertisements and see for yourself the number of ads with web site addresses. You will find quite a few with email addresses which tell you that the company or business owner is connected to the internet but does not have a web site.

The majority, however, even with full page ads, have no email or web address.

Also take a look at the business cards in your pocket or pocket book. How many of them have a web site or email address? I would guess very few.

So why would a business want a website? If the value is not apparent, it becomes a non-issue. If newspaper ads are getting business new customers; why worry about the internet? The answer is leverage. Consider this…

1. If you purchase a classified ad the newspaper charges you for every letter and they tell you what you can and cannot say. In other words they censor your ads. With a website you can add pages, hundreds or thousands of them at no additional cost other than what the designer charges per page.

2. For the price of a full page newspapers display ad or a one minute TV ad with a low frequency, you can have a full year of your company's information displayed online. The cost, your domain name and hosting, less than $100 USD. Your only challenge is getting people to visit the site.

3. The internet allows you to track everything that happens on your site. Every detail that is too combersome to track on any other mediums is trackable online. You can easily find out how many people visited your site, how long they stayed and what they are actually interested in. Impossible with any other advertising media source.

Essentially what is being suggested is NOT that businesses stop advertising on the other media but to leverage each ad so that they maximize the benefits. It will not cost one penny more to add your web site address or email address to an ad.

People who are connected and really interested will find you on the web and be more inclined to visit your business. The internet is just one tool in your arsenal and although it must be employed wisely; it cannot be your only strategy.

There is still a large segment of the population whose only connection to a business is either physical or phone but as we can see that is rapidly changing. So continue to place ads but leverage each. And while we are on the subject of ads, please ensure that every ad you place is a direct response ad, anything else is just a waste of your advertising budget.

Your choice as a business owner is to wait for the evolution of the internet to sweep you online or make the decision that you will be there when it reaches critical mass. As with everything else, there is a learning curve, the sooner you start the more experience you will have online and the more you will know. Find out how simple it is to do. Get a copy of the Internet Manifesto and be notified when the Trinidad and Tobago Special Report is completed. Go here.


Thank you for reading, comment if you feel so inclined.