Oh, yes, it is fun to scroll on our smartphones, enjoying folksy humour and clips from news stories we missed. However, the Internet is a minefield of disinformation, with social media and artificial intelligence (AI) mischief-makers misrepresenting the facts and using fake videos of credible individuals hawking ‘miraculous’ remedies. I remember sending one to Jamaican scientist Dr Henry Lowe featuring him recommending a medication; he confirmed that it was false and had it removed from Facebook.

More recently I reposted a report that the great Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce had signed a US$6-million contract for a Netflix series. It turned out to be fake, so I quickly removed it and posted a correction. Now, if such a story or the Dr Lowe promotion had been published/posted by any of our registered media houses, they would have had to publish an apology. Not so with these online fakers, they escape scot-free, hiding behind nicknames and avatars.

This is why traditional media, encompassing newspapers, magazines, radio, television, and outdoor advertising should remain our reliable resource for information. Over the years our tried and tested media have played a pivotal role in shaping communication and the dissemination of information. You can also depend on their digital platforms, which may be more convenient to access for busy folks.

Traditional media, whether print, free-to-air, or online, retains a range of distinctive advantages that make it indispensable to enterprises, governmental authorities, and the general populace. Our traditional media entities have cultivated reputations for integrity and reliability. Published outlets and broadcast networks are regarded as authoritative and legitimate sources. They are subject to regulatory oversight and well-defined editorial standards, contributing to the accuracy and quality of their content. Professional journalists and editors are formally trained to verify facts and uphold balanced reporting practices.

Print media — such as newspapers, magazines, and billboards — offers a physical manifestation of information that can be seen, touched, and revisited. Recently I sent an elderly friend an e-clipping of a report on their milestone. While they were happy for the report, they asked if I could secure a hard copy of the newspaper in which it appeared. The tangible quality of print often renders advertisements and messages more memorable than the transitory nature of digital content.

I am surprised when people declare that they no longer listen to local news or read the papers. Some say they are tired of negative, violent reports and are calling for more positive, uplifting news. This is understandable and a wake-up call, as advertisers follow consumer findings. However, how else can they know about issues in their communities, weather warnings, or participate in the joy of our sporting achievements? They are also missing financial news that reminds us of our possibilities and advertisements with offerings from our dynamic business and commercial sector.

This is possibly contributing to our low voter turnout, as some are more connected to overseas cable channels. We need to remember that our newspapers, radio stations, and television channels are typically deeply embedded within our country and region, and that the knowledge they offer can positively inform our plans and decisions. They present news, events, and advertising tailored to our needs and interests, helping us to keep connected and not conned.

Our shop has created comprehensive television campaigns, distinctive radio jingles, and print advertisements facilitating the development and recognition of brand identities for leading companies. We now balance our creative work with social media. Strategic integration of both traditional and digital media produces effective communication and outreach.

CCCD gets a Boost

He may hold a prestigious position with Marubeni Power International, but Mo Majeed said occasions like his recent visit to the Cassia Park Avenue Campus of the Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf (CCCD), were his favourites. Majeed and his colleagues Damian Obiglio, Keisuke Harada and Takuya Kokawa have collaborated with various organisations including Food For the Poor, packing and distributing care packages and building a home for the needy in previous years.

Majeed congratulated CCCD Principal Teri-Ann Bernard and staff for their significant contribution to the education of Jamaica’s deaf community. He said that his company is committed to supporting Jamaica’s most vulnerable learners and promoting accessible education. They donated $3.2 million for the purchase of computers, deep freezers, and wall fans to enhance learning opportunities and improve facilities for students who depend on specialised educational resources.

Farewell, Professor Hugh Wynter

The Global UWI Alumni Hub describes the late Professor Emeritus Hugh Wynter, who was laid to rest in August, as “an Icon, a Giant, a Gentleman”. Professor Wynter’s former colleagues Christine Craig and Jean Jackson at The University of the West Indies (UWI) Fertility Management Unit spoke of his indefatigable efforts to promote reproductive health, maternal care and childcare through the programme he created in 1979 and led for 24 years. After its expansion, it was renamed Hugh Wynter Institute for Reproductive Healthcare and Endoscopic Surgery in his honour.

According to the Global UWI Alumni Hub, “Under his leadership, more than 4,000 doctors, nurses, educators, and social workers were trained in reproductive health care. He also coordinated distance learning with fertility experts from Johns Hopkins University, ensuring that Jamaican health care professionals benefited from global expertise.”

It continues, “His pioneering research and practical interventions led to significant reductions in Jamaica’s infant death rate and population growth, milestones that improved national health outcomes and changed countless lives. His excellence was honoured globally, notably with the 1998 United Nations Population Award. His research on birth defects, diseases in newborns, and the effects of pregnancy and surgery on women enriched medical understanding, and his scholarly contributions — spanning seven books — reflect his depth of knowledge and commitment to advancing the field.”

Professor Wynter’s patients marvelled at his steady, caring focus on their needs, and trusted his recommendations fully — no second opinion ever needed. One would never believe that he was active in so many spheres of medical education, idolised by his eager students.

The son of one of Jamaica’s first local doctors, Dr T A P Wynter, and a Wolmer’s graduate, Professor Wynter married his UWI medical school classmate, the brilliant Professor Dorothy King-Wynter. He is quoted as saying, “The root of happiness grows deepest in the soil of service.” We are grateful to this giant of medicine. We extend deepest sympathy to his beloved wife, their children and extended family. May his great soul rest in peace.

Jean Lowrie-Chin is an author and executive chair of PROComm, PRODEV, and CCRP. Send comments to lowrie-chin@aim.com.

Dr Hugh Wynter.

Traditional media has proven to be the reliable source for information.