Omar Anderson, Gleaner Writer
NNPA member Robert Bogle, president & CEO of the Philadelphia Tribune in Pennsylvania, United States, makes a point during his visit to The Gleaner's North Street offices last week. - IAN ALLEN/ STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
REPRESENTATIVES FROM the United States-based National Newspaper Publishers' Association (NNPA) were in Jamaica last week, seeking to cement their influence here.
NNPA member Robert W. Bogle, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of The Philadelphia Tribune in Pennsylvania, told The Gleaner that he thinks Jamaica has a lot of potential especially in the area of tourism.
"We are here to look at our common interests and concerns, and how we can take our collective strength in major markets to perpetuate our interest," he stated, adding that they were especially trying to woo more Afro-Americans tourist to Jamaica. To this end, he said the group of black newspaper publishers, who visited The Gleaner's North Street offices on Friday, was seeking to increase advertisement and circulation in their respective markets.
GROWING ECONOMY
"Jamaica is going to become an important place to us because it's a growing economy that is English-speaking," Mr. Bogle added.
He was critical of local tourism-industry officials whom he claimed, infrequently advertise in black U.S. newspapers. "I've seen it done big times," Mr. Bogle criticised. "Your Government needs to change its ways."
The NNPA, also known as the Black Press of America, is the gateway to more than 200 weekly newspapers attracting some 15 million readers. The NNPA was established more than 20 years ago, and focuses on pre-professional training and encouraging excellence in the industry.
