Media workers in Barbados are cognizant of the restrictive nature of our defamation laws and how they have served, in many ways, to stymie the pursuit of investigative journalism in the country.A country’s democracy operates at its best when it can boast of a free, fair, aggressive and independent media landscape, where practitioners ask no quarter and give none.Much is demanded of media workers. Citizens want them to boldly call out wrongdoing, not only by the “small fish” but by the powerful, and those of influence.In the media’s pursuit of matters of public interest, media practitioners are required to walk a tight rope. This is particularly so when seeking to uncover truths that involve the well-to-do, politically connected and the powerful business class.While local journalists have been lambasted over the years for being timid and tepid in their coverage of some controversial issues, it has often been the chilling effect of defamation action that drives fear in media owners and bosses.
