FOUR media stalwarts were yesterday among 200 Jamaicans recognised for their “meaningful and significant” service and contribution to national life at the annual Honours and Awards ceremony at King’s House in St Andrew.

Veteran Journalist Cliff Hughes, late journalists Gary Spaulding and Glenroy Sinclair, and photojournalist Michael Gordon were awarded with the sixth-highest honour, respectively, for outstanding service and contribution in the fields of media and communications, journalism and photojournalism.

Nationwide News Network’s boss Hughes, whose career spans 30 years, was conferred with the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander. Hughes, who is easily recognised for his daytime radio programmeCliff Huhges Online, told the Jamaica Observer that, while he was pleased to be recognised, the work done by journalists and media practitioners is never for acknowledgement.

“I feel a sense of humility, frankly, because you don’t set out to win awards when you do your work. You just do your work and when you are confronted with the reality that your country, the people of Jamaica and the Government of Jamaica recognise your work it’s a surreal feeling,” he said.

He added: “Frankly I’m not one for the limelight, but you know it’s a good feeling, and this is my award as it is all those who have worked with me over these past 30 years. The people at Nationwide, and before them the people at Radio Jamaica, where I started, and the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation; they played a part in moulding me. To the editors whom I started with, the lady who gave me my first break in journalism Janet Mort and the one who moulded me to be a broadcaster, Alma Mock-Yen, at The University of the West Indies; it is about them as much as it is about me.”

The Jamaica Observer’s Gordon, who has served in the field for 45 years, expressed appreciation for his Order of Distinction (officer class) award.

Gordon got his first taste of working in media when he was assigned to shoot pictures for the Agriculture Information Service.

“It really means a lot to me because you work all these years and for you to be recognised it’s a great feeling. I appreciate, it man; it feels good,” the career journalist said.

Meanwhile, The Gleaner’s Sinclair and Spaulding, who were longtime colleagues and friends, were also honoured with posthumous awards — the Order of Distinction in the rank of officer.

Sinclair, who was the newspaper’s assignment coordinator, died on June 4 this year, while Spaulding, a senior political writer, died on June 6.

“I’m truly honoured, I must say for me and for him as well because he had mentioned this some three years ago that this would have been his major accomplishment and it is indeed done,” Spaulding’s son, Andre told the Observer.

“When we heard as a family that he was getting this we were ecstatic. I mean, this should have happened and it did, so we are all extremely happy,” he added.

At the same time, Sinclair’s wife, Marie, said that he was deserving of his award, having dedicated his life to journalism.

“I know for Glenroy it would have been exciting for him but he is a low-keyed person and he wouldn’t show it much but it would really mean a lot to him. I know he loved the job; he loved it. I’m happy for him because he worked hard and is deserving of it. He gave his life for the job.

“I am truly happy that he was recognised and was given this privilege to receive this honour. It’s just a pity that he passed and wasn’t able to be here in person to receive it and I’m sitting on the other side watching him go up for it. I guess the Lord knows what’s best,” she said.