TWO former Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) presidents are urging journalists to not be intimidated by recent attacks on traditional media, and to continue the task of producing objective and fair articles to inform citizens about matters of public interest.

Jennifer Grant, the first female president of the association, emphasised that the work journalists do is needed for the nation to progress and grow as a democracy.

“If journalists are doing their work in the way that they should there will come times when the information that we are putting out will not be pleasing to everyone,” said Grant.

“Those who feel as if it is not in their interest will, of course, criticise or take objections to what is being said, but we as journalists must always be guided by the fact that what we write is true, properly investigated with the required amount of sources so it can stand up in any forum,” said the former president.

Grant’s comments follow a string of recent attacks on media houses and journalists in Jamaica, accusing them of publishing politically biased content to sway public opinion.

Last week a video circulating online accused the chairman of the RJRGLEANER Group of directing editorial policy, and linked journalists at The Gleaner to the People’s National Party (PNP).

The RJRGLEANER Group has denied the content in the AI-assisted video, stating that the information was “false and misleading”.

The PAJ, in a statement shortly after the video began being circulated, condemned the attack, stating that the association, “cannot tolerate misinformation that undermines the integrity of our profession”.

Information Minister Senator Dr Dana Morris Dixon also condemned the video and reiterated the Government’s support of the media.

In a separate incident, Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) St Catherine South Western Member of Parliament Everald Warmington, addressing a recent divisional conference, accused the media and the PNP of destroying former JLP leaders Edward Seaga and Bruce Golding. He further declared that the intent now is to destroy Prime Minister Andrew Holness.

Additionally, PNP President Mark Golding, at his party’s annual conference in September, labelled segments of the profession as “JLP-aligned media houses”. Supporters of the PNP have also falsely claimed that the Jamaica Observer’s deputy managing director is influencing the newspaper’s editorial policy.

Also, last year September, PNP General Secretary Dr Dayton Campbell claimed that
Nationwide News Network was “an incubator” for the governing JLP.

Grant, who was elected PAJ president in 1993, told the Sunday Observer that she could not recall attacks on journalists being so prevalent during her tenure, and described the current situation as alarming.

“We as a country, as a nation, need to have a free press in order for the nation to progress and grow as a democracy. This is something that, when doing journalism — especially in our climate — journalists have to be fearless, and continue to speak the truth, and write what is the truth,” said Grant.

She added that given the current political atmosphere, with general elections constitutionally due by September next year, both political parties will be sensitive to what is being said about them in the media but journalists should stick to their guiding principles of factual, objective and well-researched content.

Another former PAJ president, Byron Buckley also condemned the recent attacks on the media and said that those responsible should face legal action.

“It is not the first or last time that politically motivated people will try to defame journalists. The advent of social media facilitates the spreading of disinformation and misinformation. The regulatory authorities should prosecute perpetrators where possible,” Buckley told the Sunday Observer.

He declared that despite their political opinions, journalists uphold the principles of producing factual and fair information, and there are steps in place to ensure biased information is not produced.

“I have worked, for example, in the past with particular ministers of government. I have gone into media. I have not in anyway attempted to carry my past political appointments into my job. That is all governed by the tenets of journalism and being the watchdog, gatekeepers in the media,” said Buckley.

“Going into the silly season, journalists need to maintain their objectivity and professionalism and must not be intimidated by political hacks. This is the intention of the attackers,” he said.