ON the eve of World Press Freedom Day, the Media Association of Jamaica (MAJ), which represents media owners, has condemned the attack on the provincial Western Mirror newspaper by two homosexual men.

“That persons could, for whatever reason, feel the need to invade a media house in response to the coverage of any particular story, is repugnant and reprehensible,” the MAJ said in a press statement signed by president Dr David McBean.

Last week, the men went to the Western Mirror offices in Montego Bay to complain about a story published in the newspaper. They reportedly threatened staff, forcing the company to beef up security.

“In the interest of good order, and in our ongoing quest to shape a more civil society, the MAJ encourages persons who feel positively or negatively affected by any report by the media, to write and continue to write about their reactions. Much media coverage is often afforded these writings,” the MAJ said.

The association expressed solidarity with the management and staff of the Western Mirror and pledged to continue to defend the right of all media practitioners to practise journalism in an environment that was free of intimidation.

“The public should be put on notice that the media fraternity will not be daunted by this type of conduct.”

In a separate statement to mark World Press Freedom Day being celebrated tomorrow, the MAJ again raised the Western Mirror incident, among several newspapers it said were under threat.

“…We note with keen interest and considerable concern the disturbing developments at the Stabroek News and the Kaieteur News (Guyana) and locally at the Western Mirror newspaper.

“The increased threats and risks to the safety of journalists remind us that Press Freedom can be eroded or put at risk with little or no notice. As the fourth estate, we will continue to focus efforts on guarding this freedom and striving towards further freedoms, in the interest of democracy and the various publics that we serve.

But the MAJ conceded that, save for Haiti, “the Caribbean enjoys a relatively high level of press freedom”, noting that media personnel were among the first to be included in the list of professionals to be accorded free movement under the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME).

It said it was heartened by the Jamaican Government’s enactment of laws such as the Access to Information Act, but was, however, disappointed “at the bureaucratic difficulties we often face in accessing information under the Act”.

“We therefore call for action to be taken to give full effect to freedom of information by putting in place those additional tools that will make the process work.

“We renew our call for steps to be taken to modernise the current archaic libel/defamation laws to bring them into conformity with 21st century thinking and practices and the reality of globalisation…It remains the mission and continued goal of media to educate the public and protect democracy, a position from which we will not resile.”