On Thursday, May 3, the organisation Reporters Without Borders is scheduled to release its World Press Freedom Index, ranking countries all over the world in relation to how free is their press.

Last year, Jamaica dropped from seventh to 12th and there is no telling what the result will be this year.

Whatever the rating, the official response can be expected to range from official silence (like last year) to chest-beating and back-slapping, as has taken place in the past when the ranking was favourable.

This year, the theme for the celebration is ‘Shaping a Future of Rights: Freedom of expression as a driver for all other human rights’. To mark the day, the Press Association of Jamaica is hosting a forum at the University of the Commonwealth Caribbean in St Andrew on “Artificial Intelligence, and whether it poses a threat to journalism as we know it.” One expects that the spread of artificial intelligence (AI) will be discussed in the context of the broader topic of freedom of expression and human rights.

As I see it, AI, by itself, is just another milepost on the road of scientific change; and there will be many more mileposts in the future.

In media, journalists have lived through several changes in technology used by print and electronic media. What makes these changes harmful or harmless is how they are implemented and the impact their introduction has on those who work in media.

Unfortunately, in Jamaica, the introduction of technological changes is always accompanied by the loss of jobs and displacements of scores of media workers. This in turn has a negative impact on the quality of the output of media houses and while this may well be profitable for media houses, it is the public at large who suffer as standards inevitably fall.

Whether this trend continues with the introduction of Artificial Intelligence, depends largely on those who work in media. Our action or inaction will determine how this new development impacts on the profession and ultimately the society at large.

With this in mind, I am suggesting that one way forward is to restructure the Press Association of Jamaica to encompass this and other technological changes down the road. Of course, restructuring cannot be done overnight but a start has to be made now.

Just a few thoughts in this direction.

First of all, the association has to recognise that it retains the same structure, ie, president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer and executive committee, etc, that it set up at its formation 80 years ago in 1943. This format can no longer serve the changing media landscape. There has to be a broadening to encompass the wide cross-section brought into play by the Internet. Scores of independent bloggers, Youtubers, podcasters, etc, are out there to be brought into the fold. Like those employed in mainstream media, they are affected by any change in technology. Their collective voice needs to be heard and the Press Association is the best platform for them.

The association needs to be transformed into an umbrella organisation embracing all forms of mass communication.

Secondly, as the umbrella organisation, we have to seek developmental input from existing media houses. Invite them to discussions on the way forward. There may even be cooperation, but at least we can get to know how they plan to go about implementing high-tech changes that are bound to come.

The same collaborative reach needs to be extended to the main training institutions at tertiary institutions like The University of the West Indies, the University of Technology, Jamaica, Northern Caribbean University, and Mico University College. How can their programmes be adjusted to changes on the horizon?

Thirdly, a way has to be found to get the diaspora involved. Some of Jamaica’s finest journalists reside overseas. How can we get them involved?

Fourthly, training programmes should be ongoing and expanded to include high school students. They need to get a feel for the profession before they complete their studies.

Of course, this is just an outline. There is much, much more that would have to be done to effect a useful restructuring programme; so how can volunteer, part-time administrators undertake this task effectively?

I suggest the current administrators rely not only of the executive to get this and other tasks done, but tap into the vast pool of goodwill and expertise that rests inside and out of the association. Seek and ye shall find!

As I wish the association all the best in its World Press Freedom Day deliberations, I must also sound the warning that we are at a crossroads and the impending introduction of AI provides the opportunity for the association to look seriously at adjusting itself to suit the new reality.

It cannot be business as usual. The choice is simple. Restructure or die!

Clarence ‘Ben’ Brodie is a former president of the Press Association of Jamaica.