Jamaica Gleaner

Dedicated in being the source for accurate and independent information, the Jamaica Gleaner has been trying to stay true to its mission statement since the time it was established in 1834. As a matter of fact, they have bagged home several citations in the field of journalism. They are not just recognized in their own country but as well as internationally. In 2001, its editorial cartoonist, Las May, won a Dutch Wooden Shoe award direct from the Netherlands.

Other honors that the Jamaican Gleaner received are mostly from the Press Association of Jamaica. They have been victorious over its other colleagues since 1999 where they have been heralded for the category of Excellence in Journalism. McPherson Thompson, a senior reporter, was named Journalist of the Year because of his investigative work on “debt crosses party lines.” In 2000, they did it again as they swept all the nominations at the Press Association of Jamaica. Senior Associate Editor Lloyd Williams was given The Carl Wint Award for the Most Outstanding Journalist as well as the Investigative Journalism Award for his series on the local trade of cocaine. Sports beat reporter Tony Becca was also honored as the Veteran Journalist of the Year.

That same year, the Jamaica Gleaner once again went global as its Senior Associate Editor Lloyd Williams was among the four journalists that have been handpicked by the Graduate School of Journalism in Columbia University. They then accepted the Maria Moors Cabot Prize for Outstanding Reporting on Latin America. By 2001, they captured the Media of the Year Award in the Advertising Agencies Association of Jamaica for five straight years. They also fronted the Millennium Media of the Year where there were four among the ten individual Certificates of Merit presented for Outstanding Service to Advertising Agencies. It went to Nordia Craig, Maxine McTaggart, Althea Gayle, and Sandra James.

­­A full- fledged communications corporation, the Jamaica Gleaner offer a wide selection of gathering data and research capabilities through its family of newspapers and website. They deem in the conventional responsibility of the media in serving the people by religiously telling the truth sans the fear or favor. Founded on the principle of an individual enterprise applied based on fair and free contest, they are motivated by the vision of a nation where there is access to avenues backed by equity and merit. Since they are not affiliated with any political party, they boast of their independence as they support the action that will cater to the betterment of public interest. They see themselves as the watchdog of the society where they are committed to contend corruption especially in the government as well as defend the principles of transparency. They also seek to help out citizens in their exercise of freedom of expression and speech.