JIS Television Production Coordinator Gets G-G Medal of Honour

With almost 50 years in television broadcasting, Seaton Richards is a stalwart in the profession.

As Senior Production Coordinator at the Jamaica Information Service (JIS), he is responsible for all technical matters relating to television production at the State news agency.

From Royal and State visits to State funerals and national ceremonies, Mr. Richards has brought some of the most important moments to the television screens of Jamaicans.

On Thursday (September 28), Mr. Richards was presented with the Governor-General’s Medal of Honour in recognition of his outstanding service to the office during the tenure of the current Head of State, His Excellency, the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen.

The G-G was installed in the office on February 26, 2009.

Mr. Richards tells JIS News that he is honoured to be recognised.

“I am a person who always strives for excellence regardless of who I am working with… . I don’t work for recognition; I just work for passion and the love [of the job]. That is who I am and, yes, I am honoured and humbled. I feel very special,” he shares.

Mr. Richards got his start in television as a National Youth Service (NYS) worker at the JIS in 1975.

What originally began as a temporary position turned out to be his life’s passion when he applied and was employed with the agency in 1977 as an Assistant Sound Recordist.

“I originally wanted to be a pilot. I wanted to do aviation because I wanted to be exposed to people, places etc., but when I worked at the entity for a couple of years, I fell in love. It offered so many opportunities,” he notes.

Mr. Richards worked his way up the ranks, getting his first promotion as full Sound Recordist in 1979.

In 1987, he moved up to the position of Videographer and shortly thereafter, to Senior Videographer.

Several years later, he was promoted to Technical Coordinator, served as Acting Senior Editor and was Acting Manager for about a year.

He was also assigned duties as the Head of The Documentary Unit and Special Projects Coordinator and has occupied the position as Senior Production Coordinator since 2008.

Mr. Richards’ service has spanned several administrations of Prime Ministers of Jamaica – Michael Manley, Edward Seaga, P.J. Patterson, Portia Simpson Miller, Bruce Golding, and (currently) Andrew Holness.

He has also had the honour of working with National Hero, the Right Excellent Sir Alexander Bustamante.

“That experience was invaluable; it was working with a living legend – a National Hero,” he gushes.

Among the most memorable events covered are the Royal Visits of Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh in 1983, 1994, 2002; the State visits of the late President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela in 1991 and President of the United States of America, Barack Obama, in 2015; and the State funerals of Edward Seaga in 2019, Michael Manley in 1997 and Bob Marley in 1981.

He has directed the staging of the National Honours and Awards Ceremonies for the last 20 years, and also the Grand Gala.

Other memorable moments include covering the One Love Concert in 1978, and he worked on the movie set of ‘the Mighty Quinn’, which was shot in Jamaica in 1988, as Assistant Sound recordist (boom operator).

The consummate professional, Mr. Richards’ strong work ethic and unwavering belief in excellence has been the hallmark of his career.

“I did my job to the best of my ability and served all administrations extremely well, culminating with my national honour in 2013. I would encourage people, once you have a passion, do not give up on your passion. Do not give up on your dream. Passion is what drives me every day to come to work for over 40 years. I love this job so much. Passion is what inspires you to want to serve,” he notes.

Mr. Richards has received several awards throughout his distinguished career.

In 2013, he was awarded the Badge of Honour for Meritorious Service in Television Broadcasting by the Government of Jamaica.

A year earlier, he was recognised by the JIS for 35 years of outstanding service and dedication and was the second runner-up for the Civil Servant of the Year in 2011.

In 2010, he was presented with the Veterans’ Award for distinguished service to journalism by the Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ).

A strong believer in education, Mr. Richards read for his postgraduate Diploma in Mass Communication from the University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona in 1990 and received a scholarship from the Peoples Republic of China in 2008 to pursue training in radio and television techniques for management.

He also continues to pursue personal development courses.

Mr. Richards attributes his life’s path and success to the opportunities he has received through his work with the JIS.

“The JIS has always been referred to as the ‘university’. This is the entity to hone skills and to develop talent. There is hardly any media entity, and beyond media too, that you won’t find [someone] that has worked at JIS. The agency is excellent at what it does. It really gives you the opportunity to learn, to grow, to develop and to excel. Its [influence] is invaluable,” he says.

Reflecting on his five decades at JIS, Mr. Richards recalls the rich experiences he has had.

“I have been exposed to persons from all walks of life, from the very top to the common man. I have travelled overseas… . You get to be exposed to many cultures, to many people, and opportunities, different environments,” he recounts.

A family man at heart, he also thanks his wife of 39 years, and two children for their support and understanding while executing his duties.

“They put up with me [working] all of these long hours, on weekends, and public holidays. I had to find balance to make sure that I do the job excellently while trying to spend enough time to support and provide for my family… and I could not have done it without them,” he says.

In 2012, late Monarch, Queen Elizabeth II gave approval for the Governor -General’s Medal of Honour to be struck for service to her through her de facto Heads of State, the Governors-General in the Caribbean Realm countries – Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Grenada, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.