Senior JIS Audio Technician, Donovan Patterson, to Receive National Honour for Sterling Public Service

For nearly four decades, senior audio technician, Donovan Patterson, has served with distinction behind the scenes at the Jamaica Information Service (JIS), contributing to the vital public information mission of an agency that has stood as the ‘Voice of Jamaica’ both at home and abroad for over 60 years.

With ears attuned to the faintest hum of distortion, Mr. Patterson— one of this year’s recipients of a national award—safeguards the integrity of broadcast audio through a meticulous range of technical duties.

From providing sound for daily in-studio television productions to monitoring levels, testing microphones, and adjusting dials and cables, his precision ensures that every transmission meets the highest standard.

Add to this seemingly tall order the demands of outside broadcasts and numerous government events, and the full scope of Donovan Patterson’s contribution to the JIS becomes clear—not only in disseminating public and governmental information, but in ensuring that every word is heard, and heard clearly.

Specifically assigned to one of the JIS’ foremost clients—the Prime Minister—Mr. Patterson is entrusted with delivering audio-perfect coverage for both State functions and non-core assignments. He understands, with quiet urgency, what is at stake when precision falters.

After all, without flawless broadcast sound, the JIS would be hard-pressed to fulfil its vital mandate: keeping Jamaicans at home and abroad informed of the Government’s key policies and programmes.

“There’s minimal room for error and if something should occur, you have to be quick on your feet to troubleshoot it and solve the problem seamlessly, like nothing happened,” says the public servant, whom his colleagues refer to as ‘Don-T’.

He considers it something of an understatement to describe his role as highly demanding and time-consuming.

On some days, Mr. Patterson leaves home as early as 4:00 a.m. to cover urgent Government press conferences. At other times, he’s on location late into the night—setting up for events or preparing upcoming assignments—driven by the understanding that clear, reliable sound is not optional – it is essential.

Emphasising the importance of his role to the agency’s output, Mr. Patterson notes that it is not merely important—but essential—that people hear clearly what is being said about the issues that affect their daily lives. That, he affirms, is the very heart of the JIS’ mission.

“Nothing [can] happen without audio, and not just audio, broadcast quality audio. Not because you hear something means its fit for broadcast or rebroadcast. In terms of television, I always say audio can work without video, but video can’t work without audio,” he underscores.

The St. Andrew Technical High School (STATHS) alumnus explains that his initial training was not in his current area of expertise. At STATHS, he studied commerce-related subjects—including typing, shorthand, and business principles.

“I did not do electronics subjects, but [I did] when I went to CAST (College of Arts, Science and Technology, now University of Technology [UTech] Jamaica). I was in the Engineering Department at CAST doing electronics, specialising in solid state electronics,” he says.

Mr. Patterson joined the JIS’ Radio Department in the late 1980s—an era when analogue reigned supreme, with its array of knobs, dials, and plug-ins, and digital technology had yet to make its mark.

He was later assigned to the Television Department, where he continues to work diligently and creatively, building on an almost 38-year career with the organisation.

“I was seconded to the Television Department over a period because [that department] didn’t have anybody with the expertise to deal specifically with the sound, so to speak, at the time,” Mr. Patterson explains.

That transition has not only deepened his longstanding fascination with electronics, but also positioned him to mentor younger recruits—imparting knowledge, offering guidance, and helping junior staff hone their craft.

“They are eager to learn. JIS is a university in terms of media, because a great percentage of the persons in mainstream media learned critical skills at JIS. A lot of them came through JIS, whether you come from CARIMAC (Caribbean School of Media and Communication), CAST or UTech, when you come to JIS that’s where you really learn, especially practical [things, and] how to do things the right way,” he posits.

Explaining the difference between his work in the Radio and Television Departments, Mr. Patterson reflects : “In radio, you had more editing to do with less equipment, not like now when there are a lot of equipment. In terms of editing, you have computers to do that… [so] it’s different. When you do the audio now, the editors at TV can edit it.”

Throughout his tenure at the JIS, Mr. Patterson has played a seminal role in delivering audio and editing support across both core and non-core productions in the Radio and Television Departments.

Non-core assignments refer to information and communication services provided to Government and non-government entities beyond the agency’s primary public information mandate.

Among the radio programmes to which Mr. Patterson has contributed his audio and editing expertise are: ‘Calling Farmers’, ‘Round-a-Bout JA’, ‘Community Bulletin Board’, and ‘Jamaica Connection’.

His television duties span regular studio productions as well as core and non-core assignments—including public address (PA) systems used to communicate with live audiences.

“In light of all of that, almost every function you do, whether core or non-core, its being streamed live, so you have to provide [excellent] audio for everything. When you’re doing State functions, you have to provide feed for both local and international audiences,” he adds.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Mr. Patterson’s work—alongside that of his colleagues at the JIS—was instrumental in ensuring clarity and preventing confusion at a time when clean, reliable audio was not merely a technical requirement, but a lifeline.

From safety messages to public guidance, their efforts helped Jamaicans confined at home, stay informed, reassured, and connected.

Over the decades, as technology has evolved, so too has the veteran audio technician—adapting to new equipment, refining his craft, and advancing the delivery of sound to audiences.

“You have to get acquainted with new equipment, because… we came from analogue and now we have digital to deal with. It’s a big difference because you don’t get any training to do it, you just have to adapt and do things on your own to get a grasp of what is needed,” he shares.

Mr. Patterson believes that his field of study and work remains relevant and therefore he encourages more young persons to choose that area, even in the age of artificial intelligence (AI).

“Everything has something to do with electronics in general, which now is basically computing and AI, because things change and it can make things easier. But you have to know what you’re doing because – rubbish in, rubbish out. So you have to know what to input to get the output that you need,” he underscores.

In recognition of his unwavering dedication and sterling contribution, Mr. Patterson is being honoured with a national award for over 36 years of dedicated public service.

On National Heroes Day, Monday, October 20, he will be presented with the 2025 Badge of Honour for Long and Faithful Service during the Ceremony of Investiture and Presentation of National Honours and Awards at King’s House, a testament to his hard work and dedicated service to the country.

Mr. Patterson tells JIS News that he is deeply grateful to be recognised with the national award

He acknowledges that many individuals have played an integral role in his professional journey over the years. He expresses particular appreciation to Charles Lannaman, Charles Wright, Seaton Richards, Anthony Johnson, Hugh Faulkner, and the late Ian Boyne for their guidance and support.