Stewart hailed for contribution to media
Published:Wednesday | January 6, 2021 | 12:21 AMNadine Wilson-Harris/Staff Reporter
Undaunted by the failure of several newspapers prior to the birth of the Jamaica Observer in 1993, businessman Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart invested heavily in its growth and later supported the establishment of two radio stations to diversify the local media landscape.
Stewart was proud of the newspaper’s global reach through print and online, and had envisioned the establishment of a television station prior to his passing on Monday night. He was the chairman of the Jamaica Observer Limited (JOL) at the time of his death.
“He felt that the country should not be exposed to one dominant viewpoint and so he decided to invest financially and personally into providing another viewpoint through the establishment of the Jamaica Observer,” said founding editor of the newspaper Desmond Allen.
At the time, The Gleaner was the island’s only daily newspaper.
“Even when the paper was not breaking even, he continued his personal commitment in ensuring that we could pay our bills and that the staff could be paid without any hitches,” said Allen. “But most of all, for him, was that he charged the paper with providing the sort of journalism which he thought was missing. He believed that the paper should focus on showing the good side of Jamaica, even while reporting the negative.”
Allen’s relationship with the tourism mogul spanned 28 years and during that time, he got to know him on both a professional and a personal level.
“Although he was my boss, he treated me invariably like a son and a good friend,” said the current executive editor – operations at the Beechwood Avenue-headquartered newspaper.
Committed to his mission to diversify the media offerings locally, Stewart supported the establishment of Fyah 105 FM and then The Edge 105 FM, an affiliate of the Jamaica Observer.
PICTURE THIS: Remembering Gordon 'Butch' Stewart
According to Allen, while Gordon had a special love for the newspaper, he didn’t limit his contribution to media. Regionally he supported other media houses by investing in advertisements.
Chairman of the Media Association Jamaica Limited (MAJL), Christopher Barnes, said Stewart’s vision introduced a formidable national daily which has, for 28 years, helped to innovate and shape the wider media industry we have today.
The association offered its condolences to Stewart’s immediate family and the staff at JOL.
“It was his quest and passion for perfection and excellence that has placed The Jamaica Observer group as an indelible brand in the local media landscape,” the MAJL said in a release, adding that it hoped “his legacy of passion for service, excellence and support of press freedom will continue on through his team”.
Jamaica Observer Managing Director Julian Rogers said the newspaper is Stewart’s enduring legacy.
“He ensured that the paper he launched as the second daily in Jamaica would survive and thrive and always have his fullest support in the pursuit of excellence,” he said.
The RJRGLEANER Communications Group – which includes The Gleaner – is also mourning Stewart’s passing.
“We remember Butch fondly, especially for partnering in the development of a strong and diversified media industry in Jamaica, working with our former chairmen, Oliver Clarke and J.A. Lester Spaulding,” said Group CEO Gary Allen.
“We also remember Mr Stewart for his pioneering work in the hospitality sector in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean ... and we were pleased to have recognised that outstanding contribution in 2017 when we awarded him the RJRGLEANER Pioneer Award ... ,” added Allen.