The Press Association of Jamaica continues to engage the public on topical and controversial issues relating to the media's role and function in democracy, with the theme for National Journalism Week this year being "Advancing Democracy – Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow!" National Journalism Week is being celebrated from Sunday, November 17 - Saturday, November 23, 2019.
"The week will include an interesting and engaging series of activities and events. Additionally, the theme acknowledges the crucial role that the media plays in a healthy democracy," says PAJ President, George Davis.
The week kicks off with the traditional church service, which is being held this year at the Saxthorpe Methodist Church, 143 Constant Spring Rd, St. Andrew on November 17 at 9am.
The PAJ's increasingly popular public forum will focus on the topic "Is the News too Negative?" which is intended to critically analyse this longstanding topical issue. The event will be held at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, on Monday, November 18, starting at 6 pm, and is free and open to all.
"We thought it critical to look at this issue because we have heard the complaints from our audience," says Davis. He adds that the PAJ "cares about what the public has to say about the work that we do. Therefore, we want to engage them on this issue, and to hear their suggestions."
The main speakers at the forum will be newly appointed Editor-in-Chief at the Gleaner Company, Kaymar Jordan and social commentator Jaevion Nelson.
Jordan is an award- winning journalist with over 20 years' experience. Before she started working at the Gleaner, Kaymar launched her own media consultancy firm after serving for five years as CEO and Editor-in-Chief of Barbados' first online multimedia platform, Barbados TODAY. Prior to that, she served for two years as Editor-in-Chief of the Nation Publishing Company and as Director of News and Current Affairs of the Caribbean Media Corporation, the successor to CANA.
Nelson is a Social Commentator, Gleaner columnist and Executive Director of Equality for All Jamaica Foundation. A Chevening scholar, he is passionate about fighting for the rights of the under-privileged, themes which he revisits regularly in his media commentary and on social media platforms. Donovan White, Director of Tourism and Lavern Clarke, Business Editor at the Gleaner are the other two panellists. The Public Forum is sponsored by the British High Commission, The Canadian Embassy, National Integrity Action and the Jamaica Broilers Group of Companies.
"The PAJ continues to engage with students and media workers outside of Kingston & St. Andrew. As a result, seminars will also be held in Central and Western Jamaica," says the PAJ President.
The PAJ team will travel to Northern Caribbean University in Mandeville on Tuesday, November 19 at 2pm and to the University of the West Indies Western Campus in Montego Bay on Wednesday, November 20 at 9am for discussions on the same topic.
The PAJ's annual Veterans' Luncheon will also be held on Wednesday, November 20.
"We are happy to announce that this year we will be honouring Elise Kelly, Senior Broadcaster at IRIE-FM; Headley "Dellmar" Samuels, Sports Photographer; Enthrose Campbell, Acting Deputy CEO at the Jamaica Information Service; and Balford Henry, Senior Journalist at the Jamaica Observer," said PAJ Assistant Secretary Karen Madden.
The week will end with the National Journalism Awards at the Courtleigh Auditorium in New Kingston on Saturday, November 23. Cocktails will start at 6 pm, with the Awards Show starting at 8 pm, followed by the popular After-Party.
"It is important for us to recognize and celebrate the good work that is being done in journalism," says Davis. "Overall, we're looking forward to a great week."
Contact: George Davis, PAJ President, 876-564-1384
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