MANAGING editor of the Gleaner Company Jenni Campbell was yesterday returned unopposed for a second term as president of the Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ).

She will be joined on the executive by returning members Milton Walker (director), Arthur Hall (second vice-president), Ceila Morgan (treasurer) and Rohan Powell (assistant secretary).

The new members are Archibald Gordon of the RJR Group, who has been elected first vice-president; Ingrid Brown of the Jamaica Observer, who will serve as secretary; Audley Boyd of the Gleaner, who is a director; and attorney-at-law and media practitioner Helene Coley-Nicholson, also a director.

The new team will serve for two years.

In her acceptance speech, Campbell vowed to do all she can to lift the image of the PAJ nationally and internationally.

"We stand firmly and will continue to do so, in defence against any threat made against journalists to practise their trade without favour or interference," she said.

"The financial welfare of our members is also critical to their ability to function effectively in their quest to preserve this democracy and the PAJ must take time to examine what can be done in this regard," she added.

Campbell noted that the AGM has mandated the new executive to clearly articulate to the public that while it had pursued the establishment of a press complaints council to address concerns from members of the public, the Media Association of Jamaica — which represents media owners and operators — decided against it, effectively killing the initiative.

"The PAJ cannot establish this body without the full support of media owners and operators," Campbell said. "We are not opposed to the establishment of a body to hear complaints from the public, but that needs the support of the media owners," she reiterated.

Meanwhile, however, the PAJ has a code of ethics to which its membership subscribes.