Jovan Johnson is Journalist of the Year!

The RJRGLEANER Communications Group dominated the 2021 Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) Awards last night, copping the top prizes in 14 categories.

Senior Gleaner journalist Jovan Johnson took the prestigious 2021 Journalist of the Year Award for his groundbreaking investigative reporting on several critical issues that led to action at the national level.

Johnson also won the Hector Bernard/Theodore Sealy Award for News (print), and the Carlton Alexander Award for Business and Finance Journalism.

The judges said Johnson’s work consistently shines the spotlight on accountability and governance, calling him a great storyteller whose work “was comprehensive and easy to follow for topics that may be complex, if they are not well structured”.

Romardo Lyons of the Jamaica Observer was named Young Journalist of the Year.

Usually held in November, the awards ceremony was postponed twice due to the impact of COVID-19. This year’s winners were announced during a virtual showcase.

Other Gleaner winners were photographer Gladstone Taylor, who walked away with the Junior Dowie Award for Sports Photography, while Andre Lowe and The Gleaner Sports Team took home the Best Breaking News Coverage for the Sha’Carri Richardson global exclusive that one judge described as a “career defining story that most journalist can only hope to have”.

The Gleaner’s Christopher Serju and Ashley Anguin were declared winners for the Carl Wint Award for Human Interest Feature (print) for ‘Trapped Within and Without’ – a first-hand account of a Jamaican transgender man’s experience – that the judges described as “moving, well told and covered a little talked about, but important issue”.

Gleaner columnist Orville Taylor and Tauna Thomas of Nationwide News Network were both declared winners of the Morris Cargill Award for Opinion Journalism.

Here is the full list of the recipients of the 2021 PAJ Awards:

1. Carl Wint Award for Human Interest Feature Story
(Electronic)
Giovanni Dennis - Television Jamaica

(Print)
Christopher Serju and Ashley Anguin - The Gleaner

2. Best Radio Documentary
Giovanni Dennis - Radio Jamaica

3. Best Television Documentary
Tyrone Reid & Kedisha Clarke - Nationwide News Network

4. Ken Dawson Award for Videography
Glenford Campbell - Television Jamaica

5. Junior Dowie Award for Sports Photography
Gladstone Taylor - The Gleaner

6. Aston Rhoden Award for News Photography
Garfield Robinson - The Jamaica Observer

7. The Errol Harvey Award for Human Interest Photography
Garfield Robinson - The Jamaica Observer

8. The Morris Cargill Award for Opinion Journalism
Orville Taylor - The Gleaner
Tauna Thomas - Nationwide News Network

9. Best Breaking News Coverage
Andre Lowe/Gleaner Sports Team - The Gleaner

10. Excellence in Reporting on the Environment
Krista Campbell - Television Jamaica

11. UNICEF Media Awards for Excellence in Reporting on Children’s Rights
Kayann Morgan - Television Jamaica

12. Excellence in Reporting on Health and Wellness
TVJ’s All Angles with Dionne Jackson Miller - Television Jamaica

13. Excellence in Reporting on Agriculture
Kalilah Reynolds - Kalilah Reynolds Media

14. Digicel Award for Excellence In Reporting on Technology
Giovanni Dennis - Television Jamaica

15. Carlton Alexander Award for Business and Finance Journalism
Jovan Johnson - The Gleaner

16. Hugh Crosskill/Raymond Sharpe Award for Sports Journalism
(Print)
Romardo Lyons - The Jamaica Observer

(Electronic)
Donald Oliver - SPORTSMAX TV

17. Hector Bernard/Theodore Sealy Award for News
(Print)
Jovan Johnson - The Gleaner

(Electronic)
Tyrone Reid & Kedisha Clarke - Nationwide News Network

18. Young Journalist of the Year
Romardo Lyons - The Jamaica Observer

19. President’s Award for Investigative Journalism
Tyrone Reid & Kedisha Clarke - Nationwide News Network

20. Journalist of the Year Award
Jovan Johnson - The Gleaner