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A public discussion on the swiftly-evolving media landscape and the implications for consumers will be a major focal point of National Journalism Week 2015, which kicks off Saturday, November 21 and runs until November 28th.
The panel discussion is being sponsored by the US Embassy, with the topic “Modern Media: Competition and Customer Choices” and will take place on Monday, November 23 from 6 – 8 pm at the Jamaica Pegasus. The event is free and open to the public.
“There have been so many changes in media ownership in a short period of time that members of the public have been left asking what all the changes mean for them,” says President of the Press Association of Jamaica Dionne Jackson Miller.
“Just think about it, in the last few days we’ve heard that Flow is to be acquired by Liberty Global, and that was just a few months after Lime bought Flow. RJR is buying the Gleaner’s media assets, Digicel bought Sportsmax, and everybody is asking what’s next, and how does this affect the news and information they get from all these media entities.”
The PAJ President says that the Association felt it was important to help provide opportunities for national dialogue, and to bring the participants together to discuss the issues, and answer questions from the public.
There will be two featured speakers, Dr. Marcia Forbes, Executive Chairman of Phase Three Productions and former General Manager of TVJ and Ms. Kenisha Malcolm-Howard, Homepage Editor at the Washington Post, following which there will be a moderated discussion including some of the major players in local and regional media, namely, Managing Director of Flow Garry Sinclair, CEO of Digicel Sportsmax Oliver McIntosh, Gary Allen, Managing Director RJR Group, and Cordel Green, Executive Director, Broadcasting Commission.
“We’re expecting a dynamic and robust discussion that will explore many of the issues affecting our media landscape,” Jackson Miller said. “The event is free and open to the public and we’re hoping everybody with questions and comments on these important issues will come out to participate.”
The theme for National Journalism Week this year is “New Media-New Challenges.” Other activities include a church service on Saturday, November 21, 2015 at 11 am at the Andrews Seventh Day Adventist Church at 29 Hope Road. Kingston 10. The annual Veterans’ Luncheon will again be hosted by J. Wray and Nephew on Wednesday, November 25th and honouring Vernon Davidson, Executive Editor-Publications, The Jamaica Observer who has been in media for over 30 years, having started in journalism in 1981; Ray Smith, Technical Director, CVM Television who has been in media for nearly 40 years, having started his career in 1976; Louis Burke, Studio Director/Vision Mixer Television Jamaica, who has been in media for nearly 50 years, as he began his career in 1967; and Algon Brown, Co-ordinator, Pre-Press, The Gleaner, who has been in media for over 40 years, having entered media in 1970.
The week of activities culminates with the National Journalism Awards Show and After-Party, which this year takes place at the Courtleigh Auditorium at 8 St. Lucia Avenue, Kingston 5 on Saturday, November 28th: starting at 7 pm with cocktails sponsored by Scotiabank, and an after-party hosted by Sagicor.
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