RJRGLEANER dominates PAJ awards

Journalists from the RJRGLEANER Communications Group dominated the 2017 Press Association of Jamaica Awards on Saturday night, taking the top prizes of 'Journalist of the Year' and 'Young Journalist of the Year' in addition to 14 category awards.

Television Jamaica's Andrea Chisholm was named journalist of the year, while The Gleaner's Syranno Baines was declared young journalist of the year.

Chief judge Patrick Harley said this year, there was a 50 per cent increase in the number of entries in 22 categories up from 143 entries in 23 categories last year.

However, he said there were some concerns about the quality of some entries.

In reporting "some other good news", Harley noted that this year saw an increase in the number of submissions in the radio category, a year after a decrease had been cited as cause for concern in that area.

"We are not saying that we are satisfied with the number of entries, but we're encouraged that it is trending upwards again," he said.

The awards ceremony was held at the Courtleigh Theatre in New Kingston.

 

Category winners

 

 

Carl Wint Award for human interest feature story

 

Corey Robinson - The Gleaner

Andrea Chisholm - TVJ

 

Best Radio feature/documentary

 

Natalie Campbell - IRIE FM

 

Best TV Feature/documentary

 

Vashan Brown - TVJ

Brian Walker - CVM

 

Ken Dawson Award for videography

 

Glenford Campbell - TVJ

 

Junior Dowie Award for sports photography

 

Ricardo Makyn - The Gleaner

 

Best cover design - newspaper

 

Tennesia Malcolm - The Gleaner

 

Aston Rhoden Award for news photography

 

Norman Grindley - The Gleaner

 

Errol Harvey Award for human interest photography

 

Norman Grindley - The Gleaner

 

Morris Cargill Awards for opinion journalism

 

Gordon Robinson - The Gleaner

 

Excellence in reporting on the environment

 

Janella Precius - TVJ

 

Best news, sports or current affairs blog

 

Dennis Jones

Zaheer Clarke

 

UNICEF Award for reporting on children's rights

 

Giovanni Dennis - RJR

 

Award for excellence in reporting on health and wellness

 

Ryon Jones - The Gleaner

 

Excellence in reporting on agriculture

 

Christopher Serju - The Gleaner

 

Excellence in reporting on Technology

 

Kaneal Gayle - Business Access TV

 

President's Award for investigative journalism

 

Nationwide News

 

Hugh Crosskill/Raymond Sharpe Award for sports

 

Dania Bogle - The Gleaner

Jordan Forte - TVJ

 

Hector Bernard/Theodore Seally Award for News

 

Kimberley Hibbert - Observer

Giovanni Dennis - TVJ

 

Carlton Alexander award for business

 

Kalilah Reynolds - Nationwide

 

Young Journalist of the year

 

Syranno Baines - The Gleaner

 

Journalist of the year

 

Andrea Chisholm - TVJ