EVERY SO often something pleasant comes along to relieve the tedium and to mercifully take our minds away from the crime and other ills. One such recent diversion was the staging of the inaugural "Excellence in Media Forum", by the Jamaica Broilers Group of Companies in association with the Press Association of Jamaica.The idea is to have an annual lecture series where a noted overseas journalist from the print or electronic media will speak on the changing role of the media and media developments in the 21st Century.
For next year the plan is to add to this by introducing a "Fair Play Award" to the journalist or group of journalists whose "work sparked public interest and or inspired resolution of a conflict and exhibited the highest standards of accuracy and good taste." The winner or winners of the award will receive a trophy and $25,000 cash.
The Jamaica Broilers Group is to be congratulated for co-operating with the Press Association on this initiative, which we expect, will help to enhance the quality of journalism.
The choice of Sir Trevor McDonald, a native of Trinidad and Tobago who has distinguished himself in British journalism, to give the inaugural lecture was an excellent one. His discourse on the role of the media in the 21st Century was enhanced by his skills as a raconteur and enriched by the accounts of his personal experiences covering major news stories around the world.
We share this admonition that the media has a responsibility to keep its collective fingers on the pulse of the society and that it must do this accurately, fairly and with balance.
