COMMUNICATION specialist Marcia Forbes addressed the importance of technologies in engaging new audiences at the recently concluded International Reggae Conference held at the University of the West Indies, Mona campus.

She said the primary purveyors of culture, radio and television, has long evolved.

“Radio and TV are on our phones, in our ears and in our palms. Technologies allow new forms of engagement such as via social media networks like Facebook, blogs and vlogs . Tessanne’s (Chin) journey on The Voice just would not be the same without Dutty Berry and his hilarious vblogs,” Forbes said.

“Our tweets and rewets via Twitter, and purchases via iTunes helped to push Tessanne’s win. It is the Internet coupled with network TV that made this all possible,” she added while noting that in the UK mobile apps and online videos are helping to bring museums, the Opera and theatre to new audiences. In the USA, television and movie theatres, through the instrumentality of Hollywood, spread the American way of life far and wide. Some describe it as cultural imperialism,” she added.

Forbes said she sees as a wonderful and long-lasting marriage between technologies and the cultural and creative industries across the globe. The media consultant said Jamaica too could benefit from its cultural exports through a wide variety of technologies such as videos, DVDs, online radio and TV, live streaming of music concerts, and sports via satellite.

Co-owner of Phase Three Productions, a multi-media production house, she drew on personal experiences.

“[Recently,] Phase Three provided multi-camera coverage of Digicel’s free concert in celebration of Bob Marley’s 70th Birthday-Redemption Live. We were also responsible for live streaming the event. It was all free and the feedback has been extremely positive, with over 20,000 persons reported to have tuned in via the Internet. On Twitter, I noticed several comments from people overseas saying it was the best live stream they had ever seen out of Jamaica. Many may not realise the capital outlay in equipment and the training we’ve had to undertake to get to this level.

“We at Phase Three Productions are proud to continue to play an integral role in showcasing our Jamaican culture and the creativity of our people,” she added.

— Basil Walters