OP-ED: Stifling news media threatens democracy in US Virgin Islands and across America

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While supporters of President-elect Donald Trump are basking in his victory, many Americans, including Virgin Islanders, are anxious about their future and fearful that an emboldened Trump will drive the nation into an autocracy — a government controlled by one person with unlimited power.

They also worry that Trump will seek retribution against those he views as the “enemy from within.” These are not irrational fears, given some of Trump’s unqualified, but loyal, cabinet picks, and his inflammatory rhetoric during the campaign that was eerily similar to dictators like Hitler and Stalin, not to mention the unprecedented attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, which was incited by Trump’s baseless claim that the 2020 presidential election was “stolen.”

The events of Jan. 6 demonstrated the fragility of America’s democracy and the importance of having three branches of government — legislative, executive, and judicial — to check the power of the other branch. Equally important is a free press. These institutions have been increasingly compromised for political gains.

The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects freedom of the press. The framers of the Constitution understood that a free and independent media, unrestrained by private and government interests, is crucial to sustaining a democracy, where the government is accountable to the people. The U.S. Supreme Court has long recognized that transparency and robust debates about public issues between the media and the government make for a healthy democracy.

The essential job of a journalist is to seek the truth, report the news without fear or favor so people can make informed decisions, and hold those in power accountable.

A recent Gallup Poll found that trust in the news media is at a record low. Trump has fueled distrust of the media by labeling them as “fake news” and the “enemy of the people.” These reckless statements are detrimental to journalists, who work tirelessly to report the news, and to society, because when people lose confidence in credible media outlets, they turn to unreliable sources for news, such as social media. This leads to misinformation, which can have serious consequences. During the COVID-19 pandemic, for instance, people were poisoned after ingesting a horse medicine to treat COVID based on misinformation.

Virgin Islanders also have reason to be concerned about threats to democracy at home.

Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. and other government officials in the Virgin Islands give the appearance of transparency, but they have tried to stifle the media by suppressing certain information and hindering journalists’ ability to gather and report the news. Although the administration disseminates information via news conferences and news releases, they regularly deny or ignore journalists’ requests for interviews, additional information, and clarification. Some officials insist that questions be sent in writing.

News releases provide limited information because they are based on the government’s version of events.

Journalists are not lapdogs, but rather watchdogs of the government to safeguard the people’s interest. The core responsibilities of journalists are to verify information and provide the public with unbiased, diverse perspectives. Constraining the media impedes their ability to provide accurate information to the public and expose government corruption, injustice, and other wrongdoing.

Earlier this year, I questioned Bryan about a recent lead water crisis in St. Croix at a news conference. Shortly after, I was stonewalled and removed from the governor’s media list without legal justification, which is unconstitutional. Trump has similarly restricted access to certain journalists or media over probing questions or news coverage.

In addition, several government agencies in this U.S. territory refuse to comply with requests for public records, including the Water and Power Authority, Department of Licensing and Consumer Affairs, Department of Health, and Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR). I have been waiting for records I requested from DPNR Commissioner Jean-Pierre Oriol for more than two years. So much for transparency.

The government’s attempt to control the news narrative is particularly disturbing because of the shrinking media landscape and the limited resources of existing media outlets.

Some senators say they have had difficulty obtaining public documents as well. Nevertheless, “there have been very few amendments” to the Public Records Act since it was enacted in 1921, the Legislature’s Code Revisor Attorney Iver Stridiron said in a statement. “The entire Virgin Islands Code is currently being updated by the legislature,” he added.

If senators are serious about transparency, they will impose stiff penalties for noncompliance with the Public Records Act and close loopholes. Unlike most statutes, the act does not have a time limit for officials to respond to records requests, and the only recourse someone has if an official refuses to release records is to file a lawsuit, which would be more costly than the $100 penalty for violating the law.

Senators should also consider establishing an administrative body, like the Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission, to review public records complaints, enforce the law, and educate officials and citizens about the public records and public meetings statutes. This will create a more accessible, equitable system.

Vilifying the news media and chipping away at democratic norms like freedom of the press are hallmarks of an autocratic government, according to the Freedom Forum.

Research conducted by the Brookings Institute found that the erosion of democracy usually begins with slow, incremental steps by political leaders to amass power, such as circumventing the rule of law, weakening established institutions, and making it difficult for people to vote.

To echo the Washington Post’s motto: “Democracy Dies in Darkness.”

Shirley L. Smith, a native of St. Thomas, is an independent investigative journalist focused on social justice issues. Visit her blog at shirleysmithblog.wordpress.com.

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