'Zealously guarding press freedom' - Jamaican journalists start week of celebration, reflection today

Jamaican journalists will head to church today to mark the start of the 2018 National Journalism Week under the theme, 'Zealously Guarding Press Freedom'.

The Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) coordinated week of activities continues tomorrow with a public forum dubbed 'Do You Still Need Traditional News and Sports?'

The forum is intended to take a provocative and analytical look at the place of traditional news and sports in a fast-changing and increasingly digital world.

"We thought it important to take a critical look at the future of our traditional newsrooms and sports departments," said PAJ President George Davis.

"News and sports departments will have to evolve and adapt to survive. Many have already started to do so, but members of the public have been very critical about the pace of change and strategies being employed. We, therefore, thought it was an opportune time to engage the public on this issue, to hear their concerns and to share strategies for survival," added Davis.

The main speaker at the forum will be president of the Trinidad and Tobago Publishers and Broadcasters Association, Kiran Maharaj.

A former journalist, Maharaj is now the managing director of Caribbean Lifestyle Communications Media Network, which includes four radio stations and a television station.

Maharaj is also president of the Media Institute of the Caribbean, which aims to develop a network of investigative journalists throughout the Caribbean, and is developing innovative strategies for production and distribution of content from the region.

Other panellists will be Judith Bodley, vice-president of news and current affairs at CVM; Lance Whittaker, executive producer at SportsMax; Cliff Hughes, managing director of Nationwide News Network; and digital expert Gordon Swaby, founder of Edu-Focal.

ALL-ISLAND EVENTS

In keeping with the PAJ's ongoing thrust to involve members of the media community outside Kingston and St Andrew, Maharaj and the PAJ team will be travelling to Northern Caribbean University in Mandeville on Tuesday and to the University of the West Indies Western Campus in Montego Bay, St James, on Wednesday, to present on the same topic.

Other events during the week include the annual Veterans' Luncheon on Wednesday where Erica Virtue, Clinton Pickering, Kerlyn Brown, and Phyllis Thomas will be honoured.

The week closes on Saturday with the National Journalism Awards Show and After-Party.

PAJ National Journalism Week 2018 schedule

Sunday, November 18 - Church service at Tarrant Baptist Church, Molynes Road, 10 a.m.

Monday, November 19 - Public forum: "Is the News Still Relevant?" at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel at 6 p.m. This is a free public event.

Tuesday, November 20 - Talk at NCU - 'Is the News Still relevant?"

Wednesday, November 21 - Veterans' Luncheon (invitation only)

Saturday, November 24 - National Journalism Awards Show & After-Party, Courtleigh Auditorium, 7 p.m.