The Bahamas, like most countries, is encumbered by a variety of issues, for example crime, illegal immigration, education reform, economic growth and unemployment. These issues are reported by numerous medias one of them being newspapers. Newspapers are a reliable and popular source of receiving information. Frequently “newspaper vendors stand at the roadside during the morning rush hour, selling copies of the daily papers” and “commuters stop their cars amid traffic to buy copies” (Benjamin & LeGrand, 2012, p. 22). In The Bahamas there are two commonly read local daily newspapers, The Nassau Guardian and The Tribune (Benjamin & LeGrand, 2012). On October 23rd, 2013 the Department of Statistics released its 2013 Labour Force Survey, which was conducted in May 2013 and showed that the unemployment rate in the Bahamas had increased from 14% to 16.2% (Thompson, 2013). The following day, The Nassau Guardian and The Tribune reported on this topic. This paper seeks to analyze the manner in which these two newspapers covered this topic. Newspaper coverage of the increase in the unemployment rate in The Bahamas
The Nassau Guardian and The Tribune
Both The Nassau Guardian and The Tribune had the matter of the unemployment rate increasing as their front page news article. Clearly both newspapers felt this was an important topic because only significant and meaningful stories are placed on the front page of a newspaper, above the fold and toward the left of the page (Baran, 2006). However, the manner The Nassau Guardian reported this topic was not as prominent as The Tribune. Most newspapers use bold large headlines to convey the importance of a story, to grab people’s attention and perhaps entice them to purchase their paper (Baran, 2006). The Nassau Guardian’s headline, “Unemployment up: Rate jumps from 14% to 16.2%”, wasn’t large or contained any phrases to alarm readers or give them any sense of urgency; it just stated the fact that unemployment had increased. In contrast, The Tribune’s headline, “UNEMPLOYMENT RISES TO 16.2%: Statistics are ‘Deeply Troubling’”, contained words in huge bold print and words that emphasized the seriousness of this issue.
While both newspapers presented nearly the same information from the Labour Force Survey the language in which they described the findings was drastically different. The Nassau Guardian used hopeful and optimistic language while The Tribune used dejected and gloomy language. The Nassau Guardian attempted to placate the readers by using mild words to describe the information in the Labour Force Survey. From their article’s first paragraph, usage of adjectival phrases such as “slight decline” and “rose” to point to the increase in the unemployment rate did not relay the urgency that The Tribune had for the same subject. For example, The Tribune stated that the unemployment rate had reached a “staggering 16.2 percent” and professed that this was “deeply troubling” (Turnquest, 2013, p. A1).
Both newspapers heavily incorporated statistical data in their coverage of the increase in the unemployment rate. By incorporating statistics in a news story newspapers attempt to increase understanding of an issue and give authenticity to an issue they are reporting (Benjamin & LeGrand, 2012). The Nassau Guardian presented not only the current statistics but also compared and contrasts it with the statistics from the 2012 Labour Force Survey. Additionally, it delineates various parts of the data so that readers are aware of the unemployment rates among the youth (15-24), women and men in both New Providence and Grand Bahama. For instance, there was no large disparity in unemployment between men and women. The data showed 11,800 women and 11,380 men are unemployed in New Providence and 2,635 women and 2,265 men are unemployed in Grand Bahama (Thompson, 2013). Like The Nassau Guardian, The Tribune’s article contained statistical data from the 2013 Labour Force Survey; however, it went a step further by publishing the complete survey results. This approach allowed all the data to be reviewed from different angles because “the report provides statistical summaries… that show labour force components and characteristics of the employed, unemployed and discouraged workers” (The Department of Statistics, 2011, p. 7).
The Tribune, unlike The Nassau Guardian, painted a worrisome image of the unemployment rate increasing and a lack of government concern regarding this issue. It did this through statements made by Darron Cash, chairman of the oppositional party (The Free National Movement, FNM). For example, persons are losing jobs because of “the government’s decision not to renew contracts”, thousands of Bahamians are living in difficult conditions because they “have a hard time making ends meet every day” and “the Prime Minister’s team too often gives the impression that they do not understand how hard life is for average Bahamians” (Turnquest, 2013, p. A18). In contrast, The Nassau Guardian’s article claimed that “after a slight decline last year the unemployment rate has climbed to the highest mark in a decade period” (Thompson, 2013, p. A1). However, it seems to defend this increase by stating how the Department of Statistics believed the unemployment rate increased “due to the fact that discourage workers have rejoined the labour force” (Thompson, 2013, p. A2). According to the Department of Statistics (2011), “discouraged workers are persons who may or may not have worked before, are able and willing to work, but are not actively seeking work because they believe they would not find work” (p. 21). In addition, The Nassau Guardian stated positive trends regarding unemployment. For example, that the labour force had increased by 3.1% since the last survey, which was conducted in November 2012, and that unemployed persons are becoming more optimistic about finding jobs (Thompson, 2013).
Both newspapers reported political opinions and reactions to the increase in the unemployment rate. “The Nassau Guardian is considered by some to be supportive of the Progressive Liberal Party” (PLP) (Benjamin & LeGrand, 2012, p. 21), which is the governing party in The Bahamas. On October 25th, 2013 an article titled “DNA leader questions unemployment rate” was published on this newspaper’s website. This article briefly stated how Branville McCartney, Democratic National Alliance leader, felt the unemployment rate was not “a true reflection of the number of persons unemployed” (Rolle, 2013, para. 3) and then proceeded to heavily discuss the PLP. For example, it stated that the government was optimistic about employment opportunities in spite of the increase, have created jobs recently and have plans to create new opportunities for economic growth in The Bahamas, which will turn the economy around by next year (Rolle, 2013). Unlike The Nassau Guardian, The Tribune stated political opinions from the FNM. The FNM accredits the increase in unemployment to a lack of a job agenda by the government and layoffs within the government and private sector. They believe the increase in the unemployment rate should motivate the PLP to “settle down, focus and work on putting Bahamians back to work” (Turnquest, 2013, p. A18). The Tribune newspaper “has traditionally considered itself a champion of the common man and as a voice for the unprivileged” and “is considered by many to be supportive of the Free National Movement” (Benjamin & LeGrand, 2012, p. 21, 22).
By having different sources and covering different viewpoints newspapers try to eliminate bias when reporting topics in order not to affect public judgments about the causes of and solutions to them (Benjamin & LeGrand, 2012). Unlike The Nassau Guardian, whose articles contained mainly political statements, The Department of Statistics interpretations and the positive trends seen from the survey, The Tribune published articles from other viewpoints as well. For example, in the article titled “’Concern’ Over Jobless Rate Increase To 16.2%”, written by Neil Hartnell, one of their business editors, it approached the topic from a business viewpoint. Hartnell (2013) not only presented the statistical data but discussed recommendations from international and nongovernment organizations on how to reduce the unemployment rate and increase economic growth. Conclusion
There were several similarities and differences in how The Nassau Guardian and The Tribune covered the increase in the unemployment rate in The Bahamas. Some of the similarities were both newspapers had this topic as their front page story, used statistical data to increase understanding and establish credibility in their reporting. Also they both presented interpretations from The Department of Statistics and the trends in unemployment. Differences emerged through the wording and appearance of the headlines, language and tone used within the articles, and the use of political statements. From The Tribune’s reporting I felt this newspaper conveyed the importance of this topic but used it as an opportunity to criticize the PLP and also to urge them to work harder, in order to improve the unemployment condition in The Bahamas. From The Nassau Guardian’s reporting I felt this newspaper presented the statistical information but downplayed the seriousness of this matter, relayed it with indifference and tired to put a positive spin on it. I think both newspapers coverage would have been better if they had interviewed unemployed persons as well as the Minister of Labor to get their views on the increase. In addition, their articles only talked about the unemployment rate in New Providence and Grand Bahama. Is unemployment better or worse on other islands? References
Baran, S. J. (2006). Introduction to mass communication: Media literacy and culuture (6th ed.).
New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.
Benjamin, L., & LeGrand, C. (2012). Sound and Fury: Newspaper Coverage of the Marital Rape Debate in New Providence. The International Journal of Bahamian Studies, 18 (2012), 16-35. Retrived from http://journals.sfu.ca/cob/index.php/files/article/view/164/219.
Department of Statistics. (2011). Labour Force Report 2011. Retrieved from http://statistics.bahamas.gov.bs/download/086361700.pdf
Hartnell, N. (2013, October 24). Concern over jobless rate increase to 16.2%. The Tribune. Retrived from http://www.tribune242.com
Rolle, K. (2013, October 25). DNA leader questions unemployment rate. The Nassau Guardian. Retrived from http://www.thenassauguardian.com
Thompson, T. (2013, October 24). Unemployment up: Rate jumps from 14% to 16.2%. The Nassau Guardian. pp. A1-A2.
Turnquest, P. (2013, October 24). Unemployment rises to 16.2%: Statistics are deeply troubling. The Tribune. pp. A1, A18-A19.