John Myers Jr., Staff Reporter
Robert Levy (right), president and chief executive officer of the Jamaica Broilers Group, presents the Fair Play Award for print journalism to Gleaner reporters Leonardo Blair and Trudy Simpson at the Hilton Kingston Hotel, St. Andrew, yesterday. - RUDOLPH BROWN/CHIEF PHOTOGRAPHER
NEWSPAPER GIANT The Gleaner and Irie FM ran away with the major honours at this year's Jamaica Broilers Group Fair Play Media Awards, winning the main prize for producing the best investigative stories in the print and electronic media, respectively.
From a field of 16 entries in the print category, The Gleaner won for publishing a 10-part series on 'Children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS' , which was written by staff reporters Patricia Watson, Trudy Simpson and Leonardo Blair.
The judges described the series as "important, provocative, well written and insightful ... well researched and well organised."
INTERESTING TREATMENT OF A SOCIAL PROBLEM
Irie FM came out the winner from among seven entries in the electronic category for its broadcast of the feature 'Childhood Interrupted', produced by Natalie Campbell. The arbitrators said the feature contained "useful and constructive information on a very important problem ... had rhythm, the language flowed and the interesting treatment of a social problem achieved its objectives."
The Gleaner also won a certificate of commendation for its publication of the series on the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA), which was written by editors Phyllis Thomas, Garwin Davis and Earl Moxam, and reporter Tyrone Reid.
Nationwide News Network also received a
certificate of commendation for its story on the NSWMA.
Robert Levy, president and chief executive officer of the Jamaica Broilers Group, said awarding media excellence was as important to his company as producing high-quality chicken for consumption.
"The media feed the minds of the people of Jamaica ... therefore the state of our Jamaicans is basically what is fed in them through the paper, television and radio, and so to have any impact on that important food is a privilege for us," Mr. Levy said.
