DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC Prosecutions (DPP) Paula Llewellyn on Wednesday urged Jamaican media practitioners to stand firm in the fight against crime.

"If you are prepared to retreat, what do you expect the man and woman on the road, who don't have your power and your privileges, to do?" Llewellyn said.

The DPP was speaking at the Wray and Nephew-sponsored Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) annual Veterans' Luncheon which was held at the Girl Guides headquarters.

Llewellyn encouraged journalists not to allow the close relationship with stakeholders in the entertainment industry to compromise their responsibility to protect the public from "toxic" music which promoted illegality and unsavoury social conduct.

"A lot of you as media practitioners constantly pressure the police, and rightly so, or you pressure the justice system," Llewellyn said, as she blamed the media for allowing lewd content to be played on air.

"This is toxicity that is being ingested like smoke coming from a smoker to a passive person standing nearby," she said of lyrics which condemned police informants.

Llewellyn also sought to remind the journalists of the unique and sensitive role they had in influencing public opinion.

"I am going to encourage you not to back away from being courageous, in being prepared to indicate if some of the content is not acceptable," Llewellyn said.

At Wednesday's ceremony, the PAJ recognised four persons - two photographers and two videographers - for their excellent contribution to the industry. The event was held under the theme 'Capturing Life, Driving Change and Embracing Freedom'.

Honoured

The Gleaner's Winston Sill and Michael Gordon of the Jamaica Observer were the photographers honoured.

Independent journalist Ken Dawson and Television Jamaica's Ruddy Matherson were lauded for videographic excellence.

The DPP hailed the honorees for their service. She also told the PAJ executive that she would pay close attention to its submission before Parliament on December 9 on the role of music in social degradation.

"I will be looking out for it. I am looking forward to a submission that would be thorough, will show the level of investigation, intellectual rigour and, most importantly, will show courage," Llewellyn said.