National Journalism Week, the top calendar event for local journalists, will be observed from November 29 to December 5, 2009, the Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) has announced.

Media practitioners in Western Jamaica, joined by members of the PAJ Executive, will kick off the week’s activities at a religious service at the Calvary Baptist Church in Montego Bay, St James, under the theme “Advancing Quality Journalism: Safeguarding Democracy”.

The church service sets the tone for a week of reflections on the state of the Jamaican media and will be followed by a brunch – hosted by Jamaica Money Market Brokers Limited – during which several media practitioners will be presented with certificates of participation in an Advanced News Writing Techniques workshop held earlier in the year.

On Tuesday, December 2, several videographers and photographers will be honoured for distinguished service at the annual Veterans’ Luncheon, hosted by Wray and Nephew Limited.

National Journalism Week climaxes with the staging of the Annual National Journalism Awards ceremony at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston on Friday, December 4. According to PAJ President Byron Buckley, “this is the premier event of the year that recognises excellence in journalism”.

Buckley disclosed that 18 awards were up for grabs, including the latest addition – Best Entertainment Journalist. He noted that the PAJ Executive had also introduced new procedures for the selection of Journalist of the Year which require media houses to submit the names of employees whose work they believe qualify them for the award. Media houses are then requested to send the names to an Oversight Committee to be chaired by former PAJ President Ben Brodie and comprised of representatives from several media houses.

According to Buckley, the duty of the Oversight Committee is to examine the journalists’ work submitted by media houses and to recommend to the PAJ Executive the person whose contribution to the profession during the period under review is the best candidate for Journalist of the Year.

To win, the candidate must receive at least two-thirds of vote of the Oversight Committee.

The PAJ president noted that the Executive will not name a Journalist of the Year, if the person recommended by the Oversight Committee received less than an average of 70 per cent on the mark sheets.

National Journalism Week Activities

Nov 29: 10:00 am – National Church Service, Calvary Baptist Church, Montego Bay

Nov 29: 12:30 pm – Brunch, Wexford Hotel, Montego Bay

Dec 2: 12:30 pm – Veteran’s Luncheon, Kingston (venue to be confirmed)

Dec 4: 7:30 pm – National Journalism Awards Ceremony, Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, Kingston

Leading up to National Journalism Week, the PAJ, with the support of the United States Embassy Public Affairs Section, will host several consultations with media workers across the island to review the draft revised Code of Practice for Media Practitioners.

Media Workers Forums

November 17 @ 5:00 pm – Wexford Hotel, Montego Bay

November 18 @ 5:00 pm – Sand Castle, Ocho Rios

November 19 @ 8:00 am – Knutsford Court Hotel, Kingston

November 26 @ 7:00 pm – Golf View Hotel, Mandeville