THE PRESS Association of Jamaica has described as backward the position taken by the Media Association of Jamaica (MAJ) against Nationwide News Network's decision to buy broadcast time from the state-owned Kool FM.Last Friday, the MAJ criticised the government for its handling of the leasing of airtime on the state-owned KOOL FM to the Cliff Hughes-led Nationwide News Network (NNN).
In a letter to Prime Minister P.J. Patterson, the MAJ called on him to stall this week's announced six-month leasing of airtime to the commercial entity, NNN, because the move appeared to violate a government commitment to step away from commercial broadcasting.
"Our concern is heightened by the statement that the government will finance the station for two years, which can be construed as providing a subsidy to the commercial entity that is purchasing airtime," the MAJ had said.
"We believe that what has transpired is not in keeping with the assurances that you are known to give and gave in November 2004. We urge that you take the appropriate action to address our concerns," the MAJ told the prime minister.
However in a statement Friday, the PAJ said since there was no evidence that NNN was acquiring the station, the MAJ should justify its claim that the buying of airtime should be tendered to the public.
CHANGING STATUS OF MEDIA WORKERS
The PAJ said it supports the view that media workers should be owners of the media and that Cliff Hughes' step in that direction reinforced its position that it was possible for journalists to change the status of media workers by taking control of their own destiny.
Instead of trying to frustrate this initiative the PAJ said the MAJ, which represents the voices of free enterprise in the media industry, should encourage initiatives that would give the public more choices.
However, chief executive officer of the MAJ, Neville James, said yesterday that the association is not moving against NNN.
"It is not about Nationwide News Network, it is about a principle of how you treat with a public asset," Mr. James explained.
