It is a universal truth that there can be no press freedom
if journalists live under conditions of corruption,
poverty or fear.
Little wonder then that Jamaica’s journalists are
increasingly concerned that their cherished media
freedoms are under serious threat as low pay and precarious
employment stalk the media.
Five of the last seven editors of Jamaica’s biggest newspaper
have died in poverty, unable to afford the care they need after
a lifetime serving an ungrateful media. Journalists called
out to cover a job are sometimes unable to respond because
they do not have even enough money for petrol for their
car. Others out covering hurricanes have had to leave their
children alone at home in the raging storm because they
cannot afford proper childcare.
And these journalists, fearful about losing their jobs, have
suffered in silence. In Jamaica such issues have only been
whispered about.
Corruption is rife in Jamaican society. In December,Jamaica was ranked 83 out of 174 countries by Transparency
International. Journalists are the targets of vested interests
– from corporations to politicians to criminal gangs and
even media owners promoting their own business interests.
Widespread poverty among the country’s media workers
opens up the possibility that such vested interests can exert
an undue influence on journalists.
But today, the Press Association of Jamaica, which isbombarded every week with requests for loans and financial
support from journalists who have fallen on hard times, is
finding its voice. Alongside campaigns to create a joint press
council with media companies and for an end to punitive
criminal libel laws which restrict journalists’ ability to do
their job, it is to launch a nationwide campaign to fight
against the poverty of journalists as a way of working to
improve quality and tackle the possibility of individual
journalists being susceptible to corruption.
The PAJ Executive has declared 2013 the year it “takes themessage to all stakeholders that the under-compensation of
journalists is a threat to the freedom of the media which we
all so treasure”.
Its says: “Any journalist worried about their next meal iscannon fodder to the corrupt who want to ensure that their
deeds do not make it into the pages of the newspaper or on
the radio and television newscasts. This is an issue which
everyone who wants to ensure a free, fair and independent
media in Jamaica should rally around and one which the PAJ
will champion”.
I heard first-hand stories of journalists who had acceptedmoney for petrol or loans or financial and other gifts or
discounts from politicians, corporations or other vested
interests while researching this article. Payola is seen by
many businesses as a legitimate way to get things done – and
by some journalists as a way to supplement meagre salaries.
Sometimes the request to handle a story a particular way isexplicit, sometimes implied. But in every case the journalists
know the intention is to attempt to corrupt media coverage.
The International Federation of Journalists recognises that
the poverty and precarious employment of journalists
means journalism is too open to corruption, too reliant on
corrupt practices so its independence can be challenged.
The link between journalists’ working conditions andtheir ethical stance is not absolute — but conditions play a
significant part. If journalists feel insecure they are much
less likely to challenge dubious editorial decisions. If they are
very low paid, and journalism is for the most part very low
paid, then they find it harder to develop the independence of
mind on which ethical journalism depends.
That’s why the PAJ’s President Jenni Campbell is socommitted to tackling the financial well-being of her
members. Ms Campbell said: “At the heart of what journalists
do is asking questions on behalf of those who would not
otherwise have access and provide information that allows
people to make critical personal choices.
“But in our quest to be objective at all times, we oftenfail to stand up for our own causes. Our failure is in not
recognising that press freedom is as much a matter of
providing access to the public to express themselves freely
and maintaining firewalls to guard against boardroom and
special interests’ abuse, as it is also the ability of journalists
to do their jobs without the deliberate and sometimes
systematic pressures of eking out an existence way beneath
the poverty line.
“We must stand firmly against working in a climate wherepayola and other forms of corruption become almost a
necessary consideration as we are called upon to do more,
simply because new and emerging technology demand it,
without any thought of how these new realities impact on
our own already meagre personal resources.
“As role models, we put on a positive face of prosperityeven as we struggle to feed young families and grapple with
too-long working hours.
“We fight for changes to libel laws, we speak out firmly forthe right of freedom of expression, the right to know, then we
go home and suffer in silence….we must be prepared to speak
up for ourselves. It is only then that we can speak up for
others with confidence and without fear or favour”.
The PAJ is already winning widespread backing for its
campaign. Professor Trevor Munroe, executive director
of National Integrity Action, has backed the association’s
demands for more ethical training and support for
journalists so they can increasingly challenge government
officials and others.
And Sandrea Falconer, Jamaican Government InformationMinister and a former journalist, says her government has
listened to the PAJ’s case and will reform the country’s libel
regime – which currently opens the door to media being
sued for criminal libel and facing unlimited fines – before the
endof the current Parliamentary year. But she also challenged
media to provide journalists with practical support to help
them tackle corruption wherever it may appear – including
in the media itself.
“Private power has increased enormously over the years inour society and private actors have the means to influence
media content and output. Media practitioners themselves
have to exercise considerable moral courage to resist unjust
enrichment. They need support to do that”.
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Active Voice 
Reblogged this on Jamaican Journal and commented:
I must reblog this as well, great article! Thanks Annie Paul!
Hey Kate! Sure–glad you caught it and thanks for reblogging–
Wow. I’ve often lambasted Jamaican journalists for sensationalist, unethical and unprofessional reporting but now I’ll review content in the two dailies with this understanding in mind.
I suppose it’s a similar story with the JCF. The pay cannot be enough because we’re broke, so our police officers – who are supposed to be working for the state – can easily be bribed to serve other interests. In the end, Jamaica loses.
The whole state has been infiltrated and perverted by criminals….how will we ever get out of this mess?
Mr. Boyne works for the government and would never comment on journalists’ tendency to self-censorship. He lives in his own little world. Personally I would not regard him as a “top journo.” And many stories do not see the light of day as I am sure you know, because the editor, at the request of the media owner, puts a red line through it. Yes, journalists are quite often gagged. And they are more susceptible to political and other influences because they are paid so poorly. This is actually pretty well-known and I have been told that by many journalists. Of course they are subject to media owners promoting their own business interests – there are one or two very obvious examples. A female journalist also told me in detail about threats from a political activist. So YES, journalists are doing their best. They do need support, and for some reason (I wonder why?) successive governments have been afraid to touch our iniquitous libel laws.
Well, Its not whether YOU consider Ian Boyne a top journo or not Emma…he has that status in this country. He pontificates about the ills of society on a regular basis. The UK article suggests a crisis…not just censorship but a completey dysfunctional and docile media which we all know and realize but the thing is to make a noise about it not just treat it as business as usual. And how dare the media criticize other areas of life when it is so corrupt and feckless itself?
I agree. It is rather a broad brush. But it is true that some journalists have succumbed to the temptation of inducements from politicians and others. Boyne may have had journalism training but now he is paid by the government and is more interested in religion than anything else, seems to me (this isn’t just my opinion). Self-censorship is a common practice because of the fear of our iniquitous libel laws. I have got these things from “the horse’s mouth” so to speak, having worked with journalists for many years, talking to them every day (up until 2011, at least). They have often told me that they cannot or will not report on certain matters or individuals – they would not be allowed to anyway. So it is NOT a pretty picture, although I agree this speaker does seem to have exaggerated quite a bit. I agree with Sandrea’s final comment too…
Emma, you seem to forget my own immersion in the journalistic community. wrote for the Herald for 13 years…Boyne is not just a religious writer, he writes speeches for politicians, he holds forth on the state of the country, and occasionally provides the religious community with leadership. Did you see his recent piece on the changing landscape of gay rights etc? It was a good one.
Self-censorship should never be condoned. i think its bizarre how Jamaican media pats itself on the back for ranking high in terms of being a ‘free’ press and simultaneously gags itself at the slightest pretext. The libel laws are used as a convenient excuse not to touch anything remotely problematic. It certainly wasn’t libel that kept our media from reporting on Novlette Williams’ double mastectomy! And then they tamely report it after the UK Daily Mail does a smashing inspirational story on it…pathetic…
Yes, Annie – I am aware… Boyne writes speeches for politicians because he works for JIS. But anyway, putting him aside…(and yes, that column WAS a good one!) I totally agree with you on the self-censorship issue. I think if we ever do get round to the libel laws and make them more sensible I think that will help. I remember how Desmond Richards campaigned on this… (talking about the Herald!)
Boyne doesn’t get the plum spot in the Gleaner by virtue of working for the JIS is the point I’m trying to make. He gets it because he’s a highly regarded columnist. That is all. And not all JIS honchos write the top speeches either, Boyne is in demand coz he’s basically a good writer.
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There’s also the issue of colonial retention to deal with among some journalists in Jamaica and elsewhere in the Caribbean. When the National Association of Caribbean-American Journalists held its 2010 conference in Jamaica, we–a small organization with few members–had a front row seat to the feckless media you speak of. They have since teamed up with the International Federation of Journalists. That’s because they benefit from that relationship with IFJ team members, who are not from Jamaica and know little about the nuances of life and relationships in these countries. So the fecklessness continues with the same people who are now talking about they need help. Really? Let’s have a candid discussion with Jenni Campbell and Professor Trevor Munroe. If they are truly serious about having media reform, they will have to take the Jamaican Diaspora media into consideration–just like the government is now envisioning the diaspora as a part of its overall economic development. Both Campbell and Munroe should invite themselves to the NACAJ conference in June 2014. It will be in South Florida–only 1 hour and 20 minutes away. Our website will be relaunched late July with more information. The NACAJ has been providing transportation and hotel cost to Caribbean journalists since our inception. We are serious about media reform in the Caribbean-American diaspora in North America, as well as the Caribbean region. Let’s work together in earnest. Enough with the posturing.
Thanks Jurnogirl, you bring an important point to the table. I completely agree, there is an inherent conservatism, a pro-establishment bias among many journalists and also academics at UWI. And engagement with their counterparts in the diaspora would certainly be one way to challenge some of these unfortunate tendencies. You do have to wonder how serious this reform effort is.The irony is that while many academics preach about the diaspora and prescribe greater engagement etc, they absolutely don’t practice it. In fact there is a harmful territorialism or protectionism which doesn’t always ensure that the Jamaican public gets the best quality available. It’s just the best quality available LOCALLY which isn’t saying much.
Thank you, Ms. Paul, for articulating an observable fact. I’d like to see examples of that engagement, too. No one in the Diaspora wants to speak for journalists in Jamaica. And the Diaspora doesn’t want journalists in Jamaica speaking for them. Because of territorialism, I find these journalists think we want to speak for them instead of focusing on collaboration. #backward kind of thinking. Journalists in the Diaspora want to speak for themselves. But since the Diaspora is an extension of Jamaica, we are all one. I don’t think they got that memo and know how to bring out the synergistic relationship needed to accomplish much more than they are doing now. See you in another 10 years–maybe.
I beg to differ on Ian Boyne. If your definition of a good journalist is the ability to shock and awe with big words, then yes. But he’s not engaging. I have never rushed to read anything he’s written. Most sensible people I know, the UWI faculty included, dismiss his writings as pretentious pontification. And his TV style is worse. He has the distinction of being the only host to ask a question, then he pushes the guest out of the way so he can answer his own question with glee.
I completely agree w you about Boyne’s TV programme which i never watch if I can help it, hate his TV style, but its not a matter of whether you or I think he’s a top journalist or not. He has been given that honour by the media, he has the star column in the Gleaner and whether you read it or not it is extremely influential in Jamaican society. And frankly who cares what UWI faculty think? I happen to work there and they’re not always right, far from it…let’s not put anyone on a pedestal.
I agree on the need for journalists to support each other. I hope Jamaican reps will go to that regional conference. And I strongly disagree on Mr. Boyne but then that is your opinion, and I have mine! He is (among others) an example of the conservative and pro-establishment bias you mentioned, to me? But never mind. I hope that journalist can strengthen partnerships, and wonder why this didn’t happen long ago?
For the nth time Emma, I said and i repeat, that in Jamaica Ian Boyne is considered a top columnist and opinion maker. At no time did i say that I personally rate him as such. The Gleaner has him as its star columnist. These are facts. And yes he is v conservative and pro-establishment, I don’t know where in my post I gave the impression that he wasn’t. It’s tiring when people take you on for things you haven’t said.
And just for the record while we might criticize Boyne on all the grounds we have you cannot knock him on his erudition. He is very up to date with critical theory and contemporary thought and much better read than the average UWI academic. In fact they’re not in a position to dismiss him on intellectual grounds at all.