'Jamaica Magazine' to go

Leighton Levy, Gleaner Writer

THE LONG-RUNNING television news feature Jamaica Magazine will soon be history. Come next month, the television news magazine that featured the work of government and cultural activities islandwide is to be replaced by two shorter programmes as the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) embarks on a new approach to its programmes for radio and television.

According to JIS Chief Executive Officer Donna-Marie Rowe, the agency will no longer produce the 30-minute programme, but will instead produce two five-minute features to be repeated three times daily from Monday to Saturday, to make use of the 30 minutes allocated for government broadcasts on television.

For radio, she said, the agency will produce one 15-minute news programme and three five-minute features to be aired at different times throughout the day.

"We have taken a more strategic approach to our programmes and the way we disseminate information about Govern-ment's policies, institutions and projects in order to reach as many viewers and listeners as possible," Rowe said. "The new times for the JIS programmes are being finalised with media houses. As soon as this is agreed, the JIS will inform the public."

On Sundays, the JIS will retain the 30-minute slot for TV, which will feature in-depth interviews, while on radio, two 15-minute programmes will be aired on Saturdays and Sundays.

The new television programmes will be made available for placement on cable stations.

Rowe was also quick to point out that the change of strategy had nothing to do with the pending rationalisation process that Government is planning to implement in order to cut public-sector spending.