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Journalists begin week of celebrations

Published:Monday | November 24, 2014 | 1:02 PMGary Spaulding

During a spirited church service marking the start of Journalism Week 2014, the local media fraternity was on Sunday exhorted to stand firm for righteousness in the face of corruption and temptation.

The celebratory mood at the Emanuel Apostolic Church on Slipe Road in Kingston was as palpable as it was infectious.

Most practitioners who colour the media landscape cast aside competitive streaks, as well as pens, tape recorders, microphones and other news-garnering paraphernalia, for the most part, in favour of fellowship.

Media workers, repeatedly referred to as the 'Guardians of Democracy', in keeping with the theme, were urged to remain truthful and to be

people of integrity and high standards.

fair and fearless

The frequent entreaties to media workers to be fair and fearless, were flavoured by a stirring rendition of the popular gospel song calling for the scribes to "stand, after you have done all you can".

President of the Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ), Dionne Jackson Miller, said the people of Jamaica could be proud that they lived in a country where press freedom was guarded.

"We don't have to fight our political leaders, as we enjoy press freedom," declared Jackson Miller.

gary.spaulding@gleanerjm.com