Kevin Baldeosingh taken down

[WD40]

COLUMNIST Kevin Baldeosingh has been fired as journalist with the Newsday newspaper, causing supporters of Baldeosingh to question the manner and the reasons for the firing.

Yesterday, some of them gathered outside of Newsday's office on Chacon Street Port of Spain, and staged a silent protest in disagreement of his termination.

Tim Teemal, one such protester, said Baldeosingh received his termination letter from the newspaper allegedly because of a letter he wrote and had published in the Express on May 7.

In the letter, Baldeosingh spoke about the principles of journalism, and criticised Fr Henry Charles-the then chairman of the Integrity Commission for failing to follow these principles.

He had written: " I have kept files on two instances of Mr Charles's transgressions. In a column titled "The colour of intelligence", published on December 24, 2007 in the Trinidad Guardian, he copied 300-plus out of 1000 words (and took four of his seven arguments) from an op-ed piece in the New York Times written on December 9 by psychologist Richard E. Nesbitt. Most recently, on April 13 2009 in a piece titled "The financial crisis & ethics deficit", Mr Charles lifted virtually into a column written by Catholic scholar Darrin Belousek and published in America: the National Catholic Weekly on March 30."

Teemal, a member of the Trinidad and Tobago Humanist Association, to which Baldeosingh belongs, said the columnist did nothing wrong and insisted that Newsday was at fault.

John Borely, the organiser of the simple four-man demonstration where passers-by were asked to also show their support by signing a t-shirt on display, said, "I want Newsday to know that there are a lot of people who won't stand for nonsense. I just want to show support for the principle that Kevin stood for."

When Baldeosingh was contacted yesterday, he said, he did not see it as good principle for a journalist to be fired because of writing something of public interest. He said the idea of the article was brought up before the editors of Newsday before anyone else, but they never saw it as having story value, but the Express did and had the letter published.

Chief Executive Officer of Newsday, Therese Mills could not be reached for comment yesterday.

http://www.trinidadexpress.com/index.pl ... =161481017

[pablo_tt]

Thread title misleading, I woulda sworn he was either executed or arrested

[slick]

d phoq

KB was ah revolutionist...boycott Newsday!

[- Rovin's car audio -]

Thread title misleading, I woulda sworn he was either executed or arrested

same thing i wondering when i saw d title .....

[foss]

i taught iz only taxi drivers drivin 280C does read dem ting

[Zeriam]

that sucks.

[Humes]

Before the speculation starts, and because the story doesn't make it totally clear:

He was fired because he gave the Express the information about the plagiarism, and they ran a big story about it before Newsday.

He effectively helped the competition scoop his employer.

But that was Newsday's fault. He'd given them the information and they didn't deem it newsworthy.




He spoke about it during a radio interview on I95 yesterday.

This has nothing to do with freedom of the press.

[GSKA.]

how come dis story not on newsday.
aint that news.

i support kevin.

[noobie]

Why journalism is the way it is today.

Without a free press we have no democracy.

Incidents such as this continues to send critical thinkers and good investigative journalists fleeing our shores. It's really a shame.

[Zeriam]

doesnt the newsday spy on other papers so they can come out with it 1st?

[pugboy]

dont forget newsday owners are big pnm, ex nat sec minister and ting

[Zeriam]

newsday sucks

[trdboy]

the punch hiring people..tell him organise

[vin123]

dont forget newsday owners are big pnm, ex nat sec minister and ting

Really? I never knew that. So how come they weren't invited to the launching of the Water Taxi, weren't they the only media house that was left out? I thought they were "anti pnm"??????

Even though he was an Athiest he still used to write good articles.

So sad he had to take the fall...I wonder if my dad will support a boycott lol

Well if anybody interested some of his articles can be found here
http://www.caribscape.com/baldeosingh/

[vin123]

I had to share this one, I think its kinda funny
http://www.caribscape.com/baldeosingh/r ... ions3.html

Twenty religious questions

26 July 2003, 874 words

Last week, I used the list of 20 questions from the Woman supplement in the Sunday Express to make up responses from our political leaders (Patrick Manning, Basdeo Panday, Abu Bakr). Today, I use the same approach for our religious spokesmen. Again, I have made up the answers instead of actually asking the named leaders, since I think my invention would probably be more truthful than their actual responses.

1. Your greatest joy?

Maulana Sadiq Nasir: Fasting.

Sat Maharaj: Getting Devant to kiss my foot.

Fr. Ian Taylor: Preventing people from having any joy.

Pastor Winston Cuffie: Praising the Lord and passing the collection bucket.

2. Your secret fear?

Nasir: Homosexuals. Especially when I'm prostrating myself to Allah.

Sat: A dougla grandchild.

Taylor: That I might be joyful myself.

Cuffie: Running out of jheri-curl.

3. The best advice you ever received and from whom?

Nasir: "Blame the Jews." Louis Farrakhan.

Sat: "Talk loud and carry a gun." My father, Bhadase.

Taylor: "Suffering brings you closer to the Lord, so wear tight underwear." My sergeant in the cadets.

Cuffie: "People will pay to believe." God Himself.

4. Your most embarrassing moment?

Nasir: I am embarrassed every time I see a Muslim woman's ankle.

Sat: When I found out that humans originated in Africa. Not that I believe it.

Taylor: When I smiled once in church and a parishioner saw me.

Cuffie: I once called the Jesus' name and used only two syllables.

5. Your happiest moment?

Nasir: When I finally got that hawking sound in Arabic right.

Sat: When India tested its nuclear bombs.

Taylor: I have never had a happy moment.

Cuffie: When I found out PhDs could be paid, instead of earned.

6. The biggest turn on in a woman?

Nasir: Not objecting to be being stoned to death when she's committed adultery.

Sat: Posing in my Bomb newspaper.

Taylor: I have never been turned on by a woman.

Cuffie: Faith in the Bible, especially the part about obeying men.

7. The biggest turn off?

Nasir: Claiming equality with men.

Sat: Not being Indian.

Taylor: Femaleness.

Cuffie: Booboos.

8. The part of your body you like most?

Nasir: The torso. It's so convenient for strapping on bombs. Not that you should use bombs, of course.

Sat: My tongue, which raises passions when passions don't raise other body parts.

Taylor: My sphincter, which is very efficient.

Cuffie: My superbly groomed moustache and beard.

9. The body part you would change if given the chance?

Nasir: The clitoris. Luckily, my brother Muslims in Africa take care of this.

Sat: The dark circles under my eyes &endash; in fact, all dark skin.

Taylor: Every one &endash; all body parts are sinful.

Cuffie: My arms, which I wish were longer so I could reach the Lord more easily.

10. The best book you ever read?

Nasir: Blame the Jews: They Did It, Anyway.

Sat: Why Hindus are Best at Everything.

Taylor: The Joy of Vex.

Cuffie: Bible Wealth and How to Get It.

11. On a second chance, what would be your dream profession?

Nasir: Afghan warlord.

Sat: The Pillsbury Doughboy.

Taylor: A wet blanket.

Cuffie: Store mannequin.

12. The thing most people do not know about you?

Nasir: What I look like. It lessens the chances of assassination.

Sat: I didn't always have jowls.

Taylor: I use botuxin to prevent involuntary grinning.

Cuffie: I copied my hairstyle from Angela Davis.

13. Your pet peeve?

Nasir: People who don't worship Allah.

Sat: People who don't admit that Hindu Indians are superior.

Taylor: People who think life is fun.

Cuffie: People who think Jesus would not have worn a Rolex.

14. Your favourite food?

Nasir: Anything halal, including revenge eaten cold.

Sat: Curry KFC.

Taylor: Bitter ashes.

Cuffie: Whatever the Lord puts on my table, including caviar and roast pheasant.

15. The woman you most admire, apart from your mother/spouse?

Nasir: I admire women who blow themselves up for Allah. Not that it's right, of course.

Sat: I admire all Indian women whose families give large dowries.

Taylor: There are no admirable women.

Cuffie: I admire all women who come to my church and give generously.

16. Your secret personality weapon?

Nasir: Militant rhetoric. Not that actual militancy is right, of course.

Sat: Racial appeal.

Taylor: A clenched jaw.

Cuffie: White cowboy boots.

17. Your personal credo?

Nasir: "Islam is a peaceful religion, unless you have to fight for it".

Sat: "Indian pride makes money".

Taylor: "Life is short and then we die and burn in Hell forever".

Cuffie: "Saving souls needs savings accounts".

18. Your irresistible temptation?

Nasir: Worshipping Allah in a high, wailing voice.

Sat: Making racial statements.

Taylor: I can resist all temptations, including chocolate.

Cuffie: To serve the Lord, especially in a $10 million church.

19. The one place you'd like to visit?

Nasir: The site of 9/11, to worship Allah. Not that 9/11 was right, of course.

Sat: I've been to India, I don't need to go anywhere else.

Taylor: Hell, to laugh at all those fun-loving people who didn't listen to me.

Cuffie: Graceland.

20. Your most elusive goal?

Nasir: An Islamic State in the Caribbean.

Sat: Changing the national anthem to Hindi.

Taylor: Not grinding my teeth.

Cuffie: Omnipotence, but I pray daily.

Copyright ©2003 Kevin Baldeosingh

[Humes]

Even though he was an Athiest he still used to write good articles.

It's because he was an atheist that he wrote good columns.

Atheism, humanism and rational thought informed his actions and his perspective. They were the main theme in his work.

[cacasplat3]

i know him from taking a class he was lecturing for a year......his line of thought is always outside the box......
in a class debate about the "death penalty" he took the "for" side even though he's personally against it, and he did put forward good arguments......
from that day i understood how professional he was..........he was able to put aside his personal beliefs for the task at hand.....something most journalists today have no idea about

[brams112]

check out who is his boss,also he is not the frist person to be fired for talking against the goverment of the day and he did not sell guns to the apachies,the cowboys did not want any to buy,,,,,,

[eurogirl]

Sat Maharaj: Getting Devant to kiss my foot.

lmao oh gwaddd !!! i could actually picture dev doing tht yes!!!

[mars]

Before the speculation starts, and because the story doesn't make it totally clear:

The story makes it perfectly clear...

He was fired because he gave the Express the information about the plagiarism, and they ran a big story about it before Newsday.

He effectively helped the competition scoop his employer.

But that was Newsday's fault. He'd given them the information and they didn't deem it newsworthy.

When I read the story in the Express I just assumed that all the info had been in the Newsday - which I don't read - before. The editor(s) should fire themselves for not finding this newsworthy - though that wasn't the reason, of course.

This has nothing to do with freedom of the press.

This has EVERYTHING to do with freedom of the press.

[Humes]

If Newsday refused to run the story because of pro-Catholic leanings, and then fired him because the priest was publicly exposed, then I stand corrected: freedom of the press is central to the issue.

But if Newsday really didn't find Baldeosingh's letter had any story value, and are simply being vindictive because he empowered a competitor, then I don't think this has much to do with freedom of the press at all.

Either situation could be true (or both) in my opinion.

I might be wrong, but this isn't the first time Baldeosingh has mentioned the plagiarising priest in his columns. I've seen him describe the situation more than once before, but he never actually named the priest. The last time was in a column where he criticized several unnamed newspaper columnists for irrationality or dishonesty.

If Newsday has been okay with his anti-religious sentiment for so long, including very pointed and harsh criticism of the Catholic Church, would it be fair to think that their unwillingness to print the letter is a pro-Catholic defense? Not saying it isn't possible...I'd just like something solid to go by.


And I don't think the story make the situation totally clear at all. It doesn't comment on Newday's reaction to the Express story, which Baldeosingh described, naming names, during his radio interview.

[noobie]

But if Newsday really didn't find Baldeosingh's letter had any story value, and are simply being vindictive because he empowered a competitor, then I don't think this has much to do with freedom of the press at all.

Exercise some critical thinking:

At a time when the Presidency and the Integrity Commission is under fire and falling apart, you think that it is not in the public's interest to learn of even further malfeasance on the part of those elected to office? It doesn't matter whether similar articles were posted five years, two years or one month ago.

In that climate it must be restated. In a first world country Baldeosingh's article would have been front page and would have been considered a scoop of the other papers.

That article contributed heavily to the resignation of Fr. Charles due to Public outcry at his actions. The Public would not have been able to comment and exercise their democratic rights had they not received the news. Clearly there was the general feeling that this was not something that the Public of TnT felt was passe and could be glossed over, or at the very least some explanation needed to be given.

In light of all this, you still can ask the question whether the story was newsworthy or not?

OF COURSE it was news worthy! That was like the Valerie Plame issue in the States, Spizer, Maddoff and all the rest! THAT is Investigative Journalism which we lack in Trinidad, and which many journalists will tell you is actively Censored by newspapers in Trinidad and Tobago.

Baldeosingh is not the one that should have been fired in the eyes of many in Trinidad, it is the Editor who refused for Political or personal reasons not to run the story!

[Humes]

In light of all this, you still can ask the question whether the story was newsworthy or not?

Exercise some comprehension skills: Point out where I asked that question.

No, really...where?

I am not agreeing with any decision Newsday made. I even said it was their fault they got scooped.

I'm just wondering why exactly they would decide not to run his story. The immediate inference would be that they held some sort of bias in the matter, but that conflicts with the fact that they've been hosting Baldeosingh's anti-religious, anti-PNM views for years now.

Either they have a bias, which I acknowledged as possible, or they were just really incompetent in believing the story wasn't newsworthy. It's even possible some editor thought it would have been received as vindictive given Baldeosingh's usual stance...and it actually was received as such by many readers.


It's ironic that you defending Baldeosingh but flaming someone for simply pointing out another possible side of a situation for your consideration.

[Humes]

In that climate it must be restated. In a first world country Baldeosingh's article would have been front page and would have been considered a scoop of the other papers.

But that's exactly what happened. So we're first-world now then? Cool.

Using Newsday's actions as a blanket indictment of the country is kinda pointless when another newspaper did the exact opposite.

As an aside, many journalists would not tell you about active censoring of investigative journalism in T&T. They could tell you a ton of other things that hurt the quality of journalism locally, but censorship is rarely ever one of them.

[L'il Kim]

One question though.
Did his contract with Newsday prevent him from selling stories to other newspapers?

[noobie]

But that's exactly what happened. So we're first-world now then? Cool.

Freedom of the press was threatened, so no.

Using Newsday's actions as a blanket indictment of the country is kinda pointless when another newspaper did the exact opposite.

And the journalist was fired.

As an aside, many journalists would not tell you about active censoring of investigative journalism in T&T. They could tell you a ton of other things that hurt the quality of journalism locally, but censorship is rarely ever one of them.

But this is an example right here. Had this journalist not gone outside his bounds and brought this to the public, this story would never have seen the light of day.

[Humes]

A story not seeing the light of day does not constitute freedom of the press being threatened. Good story ideas are rejected all the time in all newspapers for a variety of reasons.

Even Woodward & Bernstein encountered fierce resistance to their Watergate investigations from some editors at the Post.

Freedom of the press will become a definite issue here when we get confirmation that Baldeosingh's story was rejected by Newsday because of some sort of administrative bias, and not just incompetence or poor judgement.

Same goes for his firing. It remains to be seen whether he was fired for outing the priest, or for empowering a competitor.





L'il Kim, Baldeosingh's contract was most likely exclusive. It doesn't matter, though, as he didn't sell a story to Express. He wrote a letter to the editor and they wrote a story based mostly on the content of that letter.

[monkeypeaches]

Baldeosingh is employed at the Express in addition to Newsday.... so wats the problem in printing the article?

He is a brilliant writer....

[Humes]

Baldeosingh is employed at the Express in addition to Newsday

Baldeosingh was employed at the Express before Newsday.