‘We’ve lost a giant’

The death of Barbara Gayle, a long-time and respected journalist, has sent shock waves through Jamaica’s media fraternity and beyond.

Gayle, who passed away under violent and tragic circumstances, is remembered not only for her impeccable journalistic skills but also for her warmth, humility, and unwavering dedication to truth.

After graduating from Holmwood Technical High School in 1965, Gayle took up a job a year later as a secretary at Papine Junior Secondary School, before leaving that job in 1968.

She began cutting her teeth in journalism at The Gleaner on September 2, 1968. There, she worked with distinction for four decades as the senior court reporter until her retirement on May 31, 2012. After her retirement, Barbara continued to contribute to the field she loved, taking on a freelance contract at The Gleaner as justice coordinator for 16 months before taking up another contract until her untimely passing.

Media colleagues with whom she worked over the years remember Gayle not only for her journalistic excellence, but for the deep personal warmth she offered.

Gleaner Editor-in-Chief Moya Thomas noted that Gayle’s byline accompanied “work of great significance” throughout five decades even after her retirement.

“But perhaps more important than her formidable body of work is the fact that she was a decent human being and a genuinely caring soul. Barbara was easy to talk to and generous as a mentor, friend, and mother figure to her much younger colleagues,” said Thomas. “Her impact is evident in their work. Barbara’s warmth, friendliness, and kindness make it even more difficult to process the ugly manner in which she was taken from us.”

HARD ON YOUNG JOURNALISTS

The loss of Gayle has been particularly hard on the young journalists she mentored. For Andre Williams, it is deeply personal.

“Barbara was a good friend and colleague. I knew her for the length of time I have done journalism, spanning some 17 years. We always expressed delight at each other’s stories. I remember the first time we cowrote a lead story,” he said.

He recalled his last communication with Barbara in late November, after she was honoured by the Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) for decades of service to the profession.

“I messaged her to say, ‘Congratulations, it’s a pleasure to see you being honoured for your great work’, and she responded by saying, ‘Thanks a million, Andre. You will soon be honoured, too. Keep up the good work and just do good and do what is right.’ That was Barbara.”

Barbara’s reputation in the courtroom reporting world was unparalleled. Her work covered some of the most significant legal proceedings in the country, including the Privy Council in the United Kingdom and Jamaica’s Supreme Court. She had an exceptional ability to shed light on complex legal cases, making them accessible to the public while maintaining the highest standards of accuracy and integrity. In recognition of her contribution to journalism, she was awarded the PAJ’’s Community Service Award in 1997 and named Journalist of the Year.

Jovan Johnson, another of Gayle’s mentees, reflected on the mentorship Barbara offered when he was starting out.

“Barbara just took me under her wings. She taught me some of the basics of journalism in a practical sense – court reporting, justice reporting,” he said. “She guided me through and she didn’t know me from anywhere. She didn’t make me feel, I mean, this was a star in the profession and it did not matter. She saw me as a young journalist, who was just broken in, and she was just too delighted and I learned from her.

“It doesn’t matter where you’re from, doesn’t matter how new to this you were. Barbara Gayle saw you and wanted to help and she did that. I saw her do this with countless young journalists who’ve come into the newsroom at The Gleaner and the profession generally.”

Johnson, who learned from Barbara’s vast network of sources and her tireless dedication to her craft, spoke with deep admiration for her work ethic and how she managed to stay on top of multiple court cases across the country at once.

“Barbara [would be] in a courtroom and could tell you what was going on in all different kinds of other courts across the country [at the same time] because of how respected she was, the sources she cultivated, the way she networked and established relationships, and just how respectful she was,” Johnson added. “She unleashed such a fire within me for things court and legal and law.”

Franklin McKnight, a fellow veteran journalist, shared his memories of Gayle’s remarkable dedication and her expansive network of trusted sources.

“Barbara was one of the nicest people you could meet – humble, private, and a relentless truth-seeker,” McKnight said, reflecting on her unshakable commitment to bringing justice to light.

Former Gleaner Editor-in-Chief Wyvolyn Gager, who also joined The Gleaner in 1968, was deeply moved by her passing.

“Our hearts are broken as we seek to console each other with happy memories and better times. For someone so gentle and kind, it is unfathomable that her life would have ended so violently at her own home,” Gager said.

She saluted Gayle as one of Jamaica’s best-known print journalists, who covered the nation’s court thoroughly and efficiently.

TRIBUTE TO HER LEGACY

Audley Boyd, a long-time colleague of Gayle’s, also paid tribute to her legacy.

“I was impressed by Barbara’s willingness to share; often stepping away from her own story and making herself available to help other reporters in bringing clarity and understanding to court judgments. She was the newsroom’s legal luminary.

“I found her quite witty, an elderly stateswoman of the newsroom who made it part of her duty to build the vibe,” he added, also recalling her “lovely sense of humour”.

Also paying tribute, Prime Minister Andrew Holness described Gayle as a beacon of professionalism, integrity, and courage within the media landscape.

“Jamaica has lost a true trailblazer with the tragic and senseless murder of Barbara Gayle, whose unparalleled contributions to journalism have left an indelible mark on our nation. On behalf of the Government, I extend deepest condolences to her family, friends, and colleagues at The Gleaner,” he said.

The opposition People’s National Party also joined in mourning the veteran, noting that her passing was not just a loss to her family and loved ones, but also to Jamaica’s media fraternity and the nation as a whole.

The Media Association Jamaica Limited also expressed shock at the tragic loss.

“Her work, especially covering activities in the law courts is considered by most to be unparalleled,” it said, also noting that she was well known for her amiable manner and her gentle personality.

The PAJ hailed Gayle as a trailblazer whose contribution to the profession set a gold standard.

“Her integrity earned her the respect of judges, attorneys, and court staff alike, while her commitment to public education empowered countless Jamaicans,” the PAJ noted.

Despite the tragic manner of Gayle’s passing, her colleagues and the wider media fraternity believe her legacy will endure.

“This is such a difficulty. It’s painfully surreal what we all found out today. We’ve lost a giant of our profession,” said Johnson. “We cannot allow her final chapter to be dominated by this evil and wicked act. It has to be Barbara the person and the impact she had on us all – her legacy. That has to be her final chapter. That’s her story.”

editorial@gleanerjm.com