Spike is today marking the 33rd anniversary of his entrance into journalism - on October 1, 1973 - with the publication of the latest survey results from Marie Berbick-Graham's STRATCOM newsletter, which continues to do admirable work. In the survey, journalists, corporate executives, public personalities and public relations practitioners voted Nationwide's Cliff Hughes as "the toughest interviewer on local radio and television".

Hughes edged out RJR's petite dynamo, Dionne Jackson-Miller, and Power 106's Wilmot Perkins who completed the top three spots from a list of nine nominees.
The other nominees in order of placement were JIS' Ian Boyne; Nationwide's Emily Crooks; TVJ's Michael Sharpe; Power 106's Ronnie Thwaites; Nationwide's Carol Narcisse and Power 106's Earl Moxam.

A total of 30 persons participated in the survey, Berbick-Graham says. They were asked to name their top three interviewers from the list, based on interviewing skills such as: Ability to probe issues; knowledge of the issues for which they seek answers and ability to successfully apply various interviewing techniques to get the information they seek from reluctant interviewees.

Participants were then asked to name their top three from among the nominees. A points system was used to rank the nominees. Nominees who were ranked number one by survey participants were accorded higher points than those ranked number two and number three respectively.
Cliff Hughes pulled in 46 points, Dionne Jackson-Miller received 30 points, while Wilmot 'Mutty' Perkins was a close third on 29 points.

According to the survey, Cliff Hughes was highly regarded by most of the participants, but did not escape criticism from a few of them. "Cliff has a lot of clout but his style is becoming more of a show, rather than someone who is interested in getting to the bottom of the issues," commented one journalist. "He's still very good, but he's had better days," said another participant.

Interestingly, Cliff's protégée, Emily Crooks, who is the co-host of This Morning on Hot 102 FM, ranked fifth in the survey. Although some participants, including Sunday Herald's Andrene Davidson, thought she was a sharp fearless interviewer, others expressed concern, about her style, which they termed too aggressive. But Journalist Luke Douglas defended her approach. "Sometimes you've got to be aggressive," he said.

PR practitioner Tracy Hamilton believes Carol Narcisse shows depth in her interviews and Andrene Davidson described Narcisse's style as very mature, noting that she had the ability to break down the issues so that anybody could understand how it would impact them.

However, it was Dionne Jackson-Miller who received the most compliments for her style of interviewing. "She's not aggressive but she's still very good, said JIS's Alphea Saunders. "She gets to the bottom of the issue without being confrontational," noted the Bureau of Standards communications officer, Ellis Laing. "She asks the questions that need to be asked without being rude to her interviewees," commented former reporter, Karen Taylor. She probes the issues very well without browbeating her interviewees, so I have no reservations about being asked to participate on her show, added one PR practitioner.

A significant number of the participants believe Mutty Perkins is good at getting interviewees to shoot themselves in the foot, but they also thought he should do less dictating. "He doesn't hold any punches, why do you think so many people are afraid to go on his show?" asked one journalist.

Most participants thought Ian Boyne was a good interviewer but they noted that "he put words into people's mouth, during his interviews". At least one participant said Ronnie Thwaites was "an excellent interviewer," but felt his political affiliation was preventing him from being objective.
Spike's choice for number one

Spike was unavailable to participate in the survey, but my choice for toughest interviewer in media today is Carol Narcisse. This is one tough lady! If I had to recommend to young journalists a model for interviewing, it would be unhesitatingly Carol. The quality and depth, the courage displayed as she 'back up' an interviewee trying to slither out from under, and the undergirding intellectual prowess make her second to none in my book. Cliff is good, very good, but I give her the edge.

From Spike's e-mail bag

Dear Spike, I must commend the organisers of and the presenters at the Caribbean Media Conference held recently in Kingston. The conference was an excellent forum for information about and reflection on the state and direction of local, regional and global media. I have had the benefit of post graduate education in media studies at a noted UK university and each of the presenters (all from the Caribbean and Latin America) at the conference would have fit excellently as lecturers at any of the courses or seminars put on by my school. Such was the quality of content and thoughtfulness about relevance and application. It was two days well spent. Kudos to the organisers.
- Klao Bell Lewis, ahfiminame@yahoo.com

Hey Spike, what is it with 'Good Night' as a greeting? It is an accepted 'Jamaicanism', but I am hearing more and more announcers and radio hosts greeting guests and callers in this way. My understanding is that although night begins at 9:00 pm, the standard greeting is 'Good Evening', with 'Good Night' reserved as the parting shot before midnight. Then there is 12:00 noon being referred to as 12:00 am and midnight referred to as 12:00 pm....12 is the mid-point so it does not carry the ante or post designation, until one minute past the hour... I guess I am becoming a fossil. - Gerrard L "Gerry" McDaniel, gerry.macdaniel@gmail.com

The 2006-2007 PAJ executive
For those who are asking, the members of new PAJ executive are Desmond Richards, president; Byron Buckley, 1st vice-president; Hylton Dennis, 2nd vice president; Ralston Hyman, treasurer; Rohan Powell, asst. treasurer; Granville Newell, secretary; Executive members - Christene King - Sunday Herald/Pure Class; Marie Berbick-Graham - Berbick Graham and Associates (BGA); Andrine Davidson - Sunday Heralds Petri-Ann Henry - Food for the Poor

Send comments to The Spike at HYPERLINK
mailto:desal@cwjamaica.com desal@cwjamaica.com

Desmond Allen, aka The Spike, is a 33-year veteran of journalism, past president of the Press Association of Jamaica and past secretary general of the regional Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM).

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