Business View Caribbean - December 2015 15
needs are not ignored,” she said.
The Information Minister was addressing a United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organi-
zation (UNESCO) Forum of Caribbean Community
Media partners at the Hilton Rose Hall Hotel, Mon-
tego Bay, on November 26.
She pointed out that community media operations
have the potential to evolve into
national entities. “Certainly, in
our experience here in Jamaica,
we have seen community media
morph into national media. IRIE
FM, KLAS, and HOT 102 started
out as community stations before
they evolved into national media
houses,” she pointed out.
She also cited MELLO FM, which
has grown significantly, com-
manding a huge market share and
strong listenership nationally. She
further mentioned community
newspapers such as the Mirror,
North Coast Times, and the News,
which cover national issues.
Ms. Falconer said she is of the view that the post-
2015 era will give rise to the strength and impor-
tance of community media, and called on corporate
entities throughout the region to lend their support
to these entities.
“I say to the private sector, look and see how best
you can help community media. I urge advertising
companies to spare a little for these community en-
tities…they are important to a healthy democracy,
they are important to nation building,” she said.
The Minister, in the meantime, said Jamaica’s re-
cent top-10 ranking in the World Press Freedom In-
dex shows that the country values freedom of ex-
pression, which augurs well, as it continues on the
road to economic development.
She said democracy is better served by having a free
press and that Jamaica has been a leader in the re-
gion in that regard. “We are a country that supports
freedom of expression, and anyone who has been
following the media in Jamaica would readily agree.”
In the February 2015 report, compiled by Reporters
Without Borders (RWB), Jamaica is ranked ninth out
of 180 countries in press freedom. This is an im-
provement over the country’s 17th position last year.
RWB is a France-based non-profit, non-governmen-
tal, media watchdog that promotes and defends
freedom of information and freedom of the press.
The group has consultant status with the United Na-
tions (UN).
