Last week, we told you about Kendis Gibson's return to Belize. He's the Belize City native who moved to the US as a youth and became an accomplished television journalist there.
The US Embassy in Belize saw his years of experience in several different newsrooms as a perfect opportunity for him pass on wisdom to the local press. He arrived on Wednesday, and up until his departure on Saturday, he's been on a very packed schedule of student lectures and workshops.
He visited several schools to give motivational speeches to young people from communities similar to where he grew up. On Saturday morning, he held a 2-hour session with the press, and it gave us an opportunity for some self-evaluation. Here's what he had to say after the media conversation was done:
Kendis Gibson
"I thought it was a good trip. I think we got to meet a lot of people, got to talk with I think it was like 5 different schools from primary schools to University of Belize, high schools and got to meet with government officials and talk with the media people. It was really fun and as much as exchange my ideas, I think it was a nice back and forth. I got a lot of ideas on how the media, how television and newspapers conduct their business here and pick some questions in head as well and so what we are doing and whether or not it's the right thing."
Daniel Ortiz, reporter
"What's your opinion of the local press?"
Kendis Gibson
"It's rabid. The local press is rabid. No, it's a great competition. It's a fun competition but I think it's a little violent a lot of ways. I like the product that is being put out there and I feel is if the local media does a very job of informing people as to what's going on in their community. There is just certain things that I don't necessarily think that needs to be blown up and be reported on the way they are handled, including the violence."
Reporter
"Can you say an example for us?"
Kendis Gibson
"I think some of the violence that's being put out there doesn't need to be necessarily the way it is. I don't need to see a dead body whether or not it's blurred or not out there. I don't necessarily always feel that people gain much from seeing and hearing about this person is dead, this person is dead. This person is dead constantly, because it starts numbing people to what's going on out there and to the real problems."
Daniel Ortiz, reporter
"Do you think that the press contributes to some of the negative aspects of society?"
Kendis Gibson
"I think so. I think the press needs to realize that they have a role to play. I'm not saying you are being an advocate and persuade people as to what to do as far as voting or anything like that, but its plays a major role in the community and to try to help the community."
"Back in the States, it's constantly revolving for us, but we don't show body bags, we don't show suicide and there is a reason for that, because we feel as if it helps contribute to future people who may want to commit crimes and perhaps commit suicides. We don't mentioned the names of mass shooting suspects anymore, because we don't want to encourage somebody who might be crazy and looking at the latest killer and saying wow, look at all that publicity that he is getting, I'm, gonna one up him."
Kendis was back on air on ABC this morning.
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