Dear Editor,
To say it was a sad day when I heard about the closure of Stabroek News would be an understatement.[1]
Throughout my nearly six years as High Commissioner in Guyana (and subsequently) it has been an important source of information and analysis for me. I have no doubt my predecessors and successors thought likewise.
Any country needs a vibrant and active media. That projects all views. That is sometimes uncomfortable for those of us in positions of responsibility, and I remember well several grilling I received from SN journalists. But every such grilling was accompanied with a smile and a friendly hello and goodbye. That is exactly how it should be.
Sadly, the world of media and news is changing. People no longer have the time, or the desire, to read longer pieces or to consider in detail what is going on. Instead they want short and snappy news that takes less than a minute to absorb.
The closure of SN is therefore not unique. In the UK local newspapers, for example, have been decimated by this new (and less detailed) approach to news. But it is a loss for us all. With such short attention spans disinformation can hit home more quickly and detailed and valuable analysis is missed.
The closure of SN, whilst not unique in the world, will be a loss to Guyana, its policymakers and its public. And for that I am truly sorry.