Bevan Springer

While I was discussing a new business relationship, one official appeared unsure, while another suggested that his colleagues were bent out of shape trying to determine in which box I should be placed.

I find it a bit perplexing that Caribbean tourism officials with whom I have had a long association would be themselves puzzled given the fact that I have been covering the region for a variety of news outlets since I was a teenager and since shortly afterwards have been actively involved in the world of public relations, simultaneously building a career in both arenas.

My situation is far from unique as many Caribbean freelancers and photographers have to deftly navigate both waters while wearing both hats - in order to earn a living for their families.

Admittedly, it takes experience and some degree of dexterity, but why would a tourism executive deny a photographer, for example, an opportunity to sell some of his photos to newly found clients after returning home from his all expenses paid Caribbean press trip? What sense would it make to prevent a PR practitioner, an author or a communications coach from making journalistic contributions on air or in the newspaper on a regular basis?

For their own ethical reasons, some media houses reserve the right whether or not to accept an all expenses paid press trip and some even scrutinize a reporter's interviews and notes before going to press.

On the flipside, many freelance reporters have been able to accept press trips, file to their respective outlets while engaging in other communications or commercial functions without compromising their integrity. Their hosts fully understand provided that their primary editorial responsibilities have been met. The point is to avoid actual conflicts of interest by ensuring that relationships are open.

As a Caribbean national, I found it rather surprising when I was recently told by a tourism official that I could not be invited to cover a major regional tourism convention as a journalist because some PR people considered me a public relations practitioner now in competition with them.

Now which cave were they hiding in for the past 20 years? What has changed? One thing that has not changed is the apparent overdependence on external counsel from "mainstream" PR firms. When will our tourism officials free themselves from such bondage? There is no place for such myopia and competitive jealously in the Caribbean today and as the decision-makers and owners of the Caribbean brand, Caribbean people - yes Caribbean people - should be the ones who are dictating play.

But what can we expect when our leaders cannot see eye to eye on basic regional issues, continue to view each other as competitors, and pull each other down like the proverbial crabs in a barrel? What can we expect when we place greater value on foreign counsel and dismiss our own and our cousins in the Caribbean, Hispanic and African Diaspora?

For the record, I am both a correspondent and a communications operative and don't plan to change to fit into someone else's mould. I am also a Caribbean man first and foremost and hold dear the interests of my Caribbean brothers and sisters.

For those who are trapped in their little boxes, here's something to consider - once a journalist, always a journalist. And for those to whom much is given, we too have a responsibility to share our vision with our publics through journalistic or public relations modalities.

As we enter the New Year, I encourage our readers to break the mould, don't allow others to define who you are and what you do. Be audacious, be daring, and moreover be your brother's keeper by embracing the Biblical principle that "as iron sharpens iron, one man sharpens the other."

To him who is intent on dividing and conquering: "Who the cap fit, let them wear it."

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