Observer reporter wins Ja Broilers Fair Play Award
OBSERVER senior reporter Ingrid Brown yesterday won the top prize in the prestigious Jamaica Broilers Fair Play Award, announced at a luncheon held at the Hilton Kingston Hotel.
Brown, whose series on the St Catherine district of Gobay entitled ‘Death of a Town’ and ‘Gobay’s rebirth’, topped 23 entries in the print category to win the Jamaica Broilers Trophy and a cash award of $150,000.
Brown is the first Observer reporter to take the award since its inception in 2000.
The series of articles looked at the choke-hold crime and violence had on the rural town and the residents’ undying will to beat back the criminal elements and reclaim their community.
Late last year, rampaging gunmen killed nine residents of the community, injured several others and forced dozens of residents to flee their homes in fear for their lives, rendering the rustic farming community a virtual ghost town. Churches and schools in the community also closed their doors as violence took a foothold in the community.
But by March this year the police, with the co-operation of the resilient residents, arrested some of the main culprits and forced others into hiding. The determined fought back valiantly and reclaimed their homes.
Brown, who did extensive research and work on the series, visited Gobay five times and finished off her award-winning series with a report that four of the 19 students who sat this year’s Grade Six Achievement Test created history when they were awarded places at traditional high schools – a first for the community.
Other winners of sectional prizes included the Nationwide news team whose entry, ‘Behind the Wrecker Service Racket’, copped the first prize in the electronic category, the fourth time and second in succession for that media house.
CVM television placed second overall with its entry ‘Kissing Tomorrow Good-bye’, while the Sunday Herald’s entry ‘Murder of the JUTC Chairman’, was judged the third best of all print and electronic entries.
Earl Moxam of RJR was awarded a certificate of commendation for his entry, ‘Jamaica’s Political Journey’.
