The Media Association Jamaica Limited notes with serious concern the fire-bombing of the car of a guest on a CVM Television programme on Wednesday morning and the threats against several citizens who are openly expressing their opinions on current issues in the society.  There is concern that fire-bombing of the car could be related to the guest’s appearance on a programme where he expressed his views.

Representatives of the Government of Jamaica and the Media Association Jamaica Limited met on Tuesday and held extensive discussions on the changes being proposed by the government on how it will use time reserved for government broadcast on commercial broadcast stations.

The meeting was constructive and covered several areas that have recently been discussed publicly.

The Media Association and the representatives of the government are to have follow-up discussions after the regular monthly meeting of the MAJ’s Executive Committee which is scheduled for this (Tuesday) afternoon.

Today, World Press Freedom Day (WPFD), we in the press recall those of our media colleagues and the family members of media workers in Jamaica who have been cut down or injured in the continuing crime and violence which media take no pleasure in reporting from day to day.

These crimes and this violence that have sometimes been threatened against media houses, sometimes committed against media workers and sometimes visited upon their families, smear the country's reputation for strong press freedom and tolerance to free speech, but more importantly puts a chill on journalists vigorously pursuing information on  behalf of the public.  This must not be allowed to continue.

The Media Association Jamaica Limited, MAJ has for several months been discussing with the government its proposals to change how it uses the allocation of government reserved time on radio and television stations (see attached schedule).

The plans would on weekdays abandon the 30 minute programmes done by the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) to introduce ten news headline programmes each weekday on all stations to be called GOJ News Headlines and to also introduce three - five minute programmes called GOJ Update for a total of thirteen of the same programmes on all radio and TV stations each weekday.

The Media Association Jamaica Limited (MAJ) has re-elected its Executive en-bloc to serve a second year in office.

Mr. Gary Allen, who is Managing Director of the RJR Communications Group, has been re-elected Chairman with Messrs. Brian Schmidt (IRIE FM/ZIP FM) and Ed Khoury (Jamaica Observer) re-elected to the positions of Vice-Chairman.  Ms. R. Christene King (Sunday Herald) is Secretary, Ms. Hyacinth Anderson (RJR) is Treasurer and Ms. Tanya Burke, Legal Advisor.  The Executive is completed by Dr. David McBean (CVM TV), Mr. Christopher Barnes (The Gleaner Co.) and Mr. Newton James (Power 106 FM).