The Tribune

Bahamas Press Club. - President of the Bahamas Press Club 2014, Anthony A Newbold, addressed the Rotary Club of South East Nassau weekly luncheon meeting on the role of the Press.

The meeting was held at East Villa Restaurant, East Bay Street, on Wednesday. He was accompanied by Press Club executives Anthony Capron, first vice-president; Lindsay Thompson, secretary, and Vincent Vaughan, treasurer.

Mr Newbold stated that the main ideal of The Press Club is to promote the highest standards of journalism and mass communications in the country.

In this vein, the club is seeking to devise a Code of Ethics to govern the profession, particularly those members of the organisation. And, to advocate for the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act.

Dating back to the early 1970s, there have been numerous tries at establishing an association of the press corps in The Bahamas. The most successful of which began in 1996.

“Let me say that the press club is not a union,” said Mr Newbold, who is special projects co-ordinator at the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas (ZNS). “The purpose of the club, to borrow from the National Press Club in Washington, DC, is to encourage friendly intercourse among news practitioners and everyone with whom they have contact, in the pursuit of the profession; to promote the interests of those employed in the media; to ensure public access to information, and of course, to guarantee as much as possible the accuracy of that information, and to cultivate literary tastes.”

Furthermore, “we endeavor to promote and uphold the highest ideals and standards of journalism, while providing for the exchange of ideas and experiences and the offering of professional development opportunities”.

Despite the promising start in 1996, after 2002, The club remained dormant until August 2014, when Mr. Newbold led the effort to revive it. Of the 65 invitations, 20 persons signed up, with an additional five signing up since.

“My disappointment, not enough of those signed up are part of the under 30 group of young journalists. We continue to work on them, but you can’t want something for someone more than they want it for themselves.”

He said however, that their involvement is critical, because they make up 90 percent of today’s press corps.

“And, while they may have some formal training, they lack experience and the knowledge and wisdom that comes from that experience, which does not stop them from being tenacious and mercenary in some cases, taking no prisoners in the process.”

While the editors make the final decisions, it helps, tremendously if they have something to work with, he said.

Mr Newbold noted that media now includes the traditional press corps as well as those involved in social media - usually non journalists and talk show hosts - both unregulated and both bringing a whole new wrinkle to how news is communicated and received.

“All of this demands a discerning and engaged public,” he said.

To Rotarians, he admonished that all have a role to play in what happens with this country and how it happens.

“And, if there is a time for all of us to play our roles, the time is now. It is no longer acceptable, if it ever was, to just be a spectator!

“One of my favourite sayings is, if you are content to just throw rocks from the sidelines and not get in the ring, I have no time for you!”

According to Mr Newbold, the state of this nation today, demands the involvement of all, as there are too much uncertainty and ambivalence about those foundational institutions that have anchored the society.

In stressing the role of the press, a profession, which he’s practiced for more than two decades, Mr Newbold, quoted the Venerable Ellen Hume, presently an Annenberg Fellow in Civic Media at the Center for Media, Data and Society, at Central European University in Budapest, Hungary.

There are four essential roles, she says, that a free press serves:

1. Holding government leaders accountable to the people,

2. Publicising issues that need attention,

3. Educating citizens so they can make informed decisions, and

4. Connecting people with each other in civil society.

Hence, other roles of the press are, being the watchdog of the people, holding government leaders accountable to the people, connecting people through various forms, informing and educating.

Mr Newbold pledged to continue to push for the cohesive development and training of young journalists and the coming together of all media because not only does he believes there is strength in numbers “but it is one way to ensure that institutional knowledge is not lost”.

One way of enhancing the profession is recognizing the work of meda during the Bahamas Press Club Awards Banquet, held November 21, 2015, which is again set for November 2016.

He also envisions a permanent home for The Press Club, where its members can assembly and enjoy facilities to further enhance the profession.

For more information, contact Lindsay Thompson at thebahamaspressclub@gmail.com, or call (242) 434-5643.

Cycling Club Bahamas. - Weekday rides east: Morning - Tuesday and Thursday, leaving 5am sharp from Sea Grapes Shopping Centre, East Prince Charles Drive. This ride is a 17-mile loop to the Northbound Paradise Island Bridge and back again (Both bridges are sometimes incorporated depending on available time). Open to riders capable of 18 mph + for 1 hour. Lights are essential.

Weekday rides west: Morning - Wednesdays and Fridays leaving 4:45am sharp from Cable Beach Police Station, West Bay St. This ride is a 20-mile loop. The route is varied. Open to riders capable of 18mph+ for 1 hr. Lights are essential. Contact Shantelle to confirm your attendance.

Afternoon - Tuesdays and Thursdays leaving 5:30pm sharp from Lyford Cay Gas Station Parking Lot. This ride is 18-20 miles depending on whether you choose to do a second loop. Recommended for strong riders capable of 20mph+ for 1-1.5hrs. Intermediate Riders 18-22mph - see Spyda.

Weekend rides: Saturdays leaving 6am sharp from Harbour Bay Shopping Centre in front of First Caribbean Bank (Starbuck’s) 30 miles headed West. In order to complete this ride it is recommended that you have done some recent cycling! Leaving P/I Bridges optional at the end! The pace will range from 18mph–20+mph, two-hour duration.

Sundays leaving 6am sharp from Harbour Bay Shopping Centre in front of First Caribbean Bank (Starbuck’s) 40-50 miles headed East. This ride is not recommended if you have not cycled recently or first timers! P/I Bridges optional at the end! The pace will range from 18–20+mph, 3-3.5 hour duration (cyclists are invited to join in anywhere along the route).

Rotaract Club of East Nassau. - On January 27, at The Nassau Yacht Club, The Rotaract Club of East Nassau hosted its Fourth Annual Entrepreneurship Panel Discussion, “Entrepreneurship: From Ideas to Success!”, under the directorship of vice-president amd professional development director Candace Russell, fundraising director Cristobal Gomez, and president Ralpha Moxey. The moderator of the event was Tristan Beneby (Triart Media), who streamlined the evening and mediated the topics discussed. The guest panelists included Atario Mitchell (president of Bahamas Striping), Chavara Eneas (president of Chiccharney Farms), Mervin Sweeting (CEO of Switcha), and Keshelle Davis (executive director of the Chamber Institute).

Each panelist brought a different perspective on how they started their businesses and turned their ideas into success. Talking points focused on how the panelists funded their business, what factors in The Bahamas encourage entrepreneurship, and difficult decisions they had to make on behalf of the business. The audience was also interacted with the panelists during a lively Q&A session. Raffle prizes included gift certificates and a grand prize of a complimentary service package from StartUp Bahamas for logo design, business cards and consultation on starting a business.

President Ralpha Moxey and vice-president Candace Russell were very pleased with the event’s turnout and feedback. Approximately 150 persons attended the event, the event’s biggest turnout to date. They both shared that the public should look out for the Fifth Annual event next year and thanked everyone for their continued support.

This event was co-hosted by Bahamas Medical Center. Platinum sponsors were Generali Worldwide, Island Living Real Estate, Nassau Tile, Scotiabank, and NUA Insurance Agents & Brokers. Gold sponsors were Bahamas Waste, CBS Bahamas, Bahamas Wholesale Agencies (Herr’s), and Bahamas Realty.

The Rotaract Club of East Nassau meets twice a month on Monday evenings at Lifestyles Bar & Lounge/ Bacardi Bar (East & Bay Streets). Fellowship begins at 6pm and meetings begin at 6:30pm. Rotaract is a service-based organisation for young professionals aged 18 to 30. Rotaract East Nassau is sponsored by the Rotary Club of East Nassau, and is a member of Rotary International which consists of over 9,000 clubs and 200,000 members. Rotaract is focused on providing service for its local community, professional development for its members and support for the international community. Should you have any interest in joining the club, email rotaract.eastnassau@gmail.com or visit the facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/RotaractEastNassau/.