Five Media Stalwarts Honoured by PAJ

Five veteran media practitioners have been honoured by the Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ), for their outstanding contributions to journalism.

The awardees are Librarian, Jamaica Information Service (JIS), Maxine Shrouder, 35 years; Jamaica’s first camera woman, Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC TV), Pat Riley, 25 years; Press Technician, Jamaica Observer, Ian Watkis, 27 years; Cameraman, Technical Director, Production Manager, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica (PBCJ), Keith Campbell, 35 years; and Cameraman, Technical Director, JBC TV/Television Jamaica (TVJ), Clevans Wilson, 47 years.

Citations were read and presented to the honourees by the PAJ at its veterans’ luncheon on Wednesday (February 1), at the Alhambra Inn in Kingston.

Since 1987, Ms. Shrouder has served with distinction at the JIS as a photo librarian/researcher. Currently she holds the position as Supervisor/Senior Photo Librarian at the Agency.

Her attention to detail has earned her the nickname “Meticulous Maxine”, as her expertise in organising, cataloguing, storing and retrieving the intangible memories of Jamaica has earned her recognition and respect among her media colleagues.

Ms. Shrouder who expressed surprise and delight at the recognition attributes this quality to her passion for her craft.

“The reason I am good at what I do is because I like to see the end product. I like to see good work, accurate work, facts, so I strive to do a good job when I am doing my research,” she told JIS News.

Having worked in the media for several decades, Ms. Shrouder is well aware of the importance of each team member delivering quality service.

“I am grateful, honoured and humbled by [this recognition]. Doing my work behind the scenes, I didn’t know that I would be recognised. It tells me that good work pays off, and I will continue to work diligently, because I love what I do,” she said.

Ms. Shrouder’s research findings can be found in prominent local and international newspapers, books, magazines, television documentaries, and personal archives.

Meanwhile, President of the PAJ, Milton Walker, said the honourees, who are from five different categories of broadcasting and print journalism in both the public and private sectors, were selected for their yeoman service to the field.

“We honour five stalwarts who have served our profession with distinction and are continuing to make their mark [as] they are still active. The five honourees are people who have worked behind the scenes, and we have deliberately chosen persons this year who are not on the front line, who are not in front of the camera, or get bylines, but our work as journalists would not be possible without their support,” he said.

President of the PAJ, Milton Walker, said the honourees, who are from five different categories of broadcasting and print journalism from both the public and private sectors were selected for their yeoman service to the field.

The veterans’ luncheon is one of several activities organised by the PAJ to observe National Journalism Week 2023, from January 29 to February 4, under the theme, ‘A Free Press for a Better Jamaica’.

The Week commenced with a church service at Christ Church, Vineyard Town, Kingston, on Sunday, January 29, followed by a forum on Monday, January 30, at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, Kingston.

There will also be a virtual forum at Northern Caribbean University (NCU), in Manchester, on Friday, February 3.

The week of activities will culminate with the PAJ awards ceremony at the Courtleigh Auditorium, Kingston, on Saturday, February 4.