Information Minister Pledges Support to JIS

Minister with responsibility for Information, Senator the Hon. Sandrea Falconer, has pledged her full support in enhancing the work of the Government’s news agency, the Jamaica Information Service (JIS).

Addressing staff members, following a tour of the entity’s head office at 58a Half-Way Tree Road, in Kingston, today  (February 14), Senator Falconer said she,  and by extension, the administration, understood the value of the agency’s work, which was greatly appreciated.

“Having a background in journalism and having worked in the field that many of you work in, I understand what you have to do. I certainly understand the value of the Jamaica Information Service to Jamaica and to Jamaicans, not only here in Jamaica, but certainly in the Diaspora. So, you are a very important part of what we do as a government…how we project ourselves as a nation. You are very, very important to us (because) you showcase every single thing that we do,” the Minister  told  the staff.

One particular  area of support, Senator Falconer said,  had to do with digitization, especially  images in the  Photography Unit.  “We cannot afford to lose any of our historical data,” the Minister emphasised. 

Senator Falconer said  this was a priority,  which would also relate to historical  materials at the Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica  (PBCJ).

The Minister, who was making her first official visit to the JIS, since her portfolio  appointment, said she had observed the “constraints” with which the staff had to work.

“There are certain things that you need, but you know that  there  is not a  lot of money (and) as a government,  things are tight. I’m not going to make any major promises, but I will work with (Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Donna-Marie Rowe) and the leadership team at the JIS, and I will lobby for you,” Senator Falconer  said.

The Minister  emphasised that in going forward, there  is  need to determine how best the agency can generate revenue from materials within its archives.

By Douglas McIntosh, JIS Reporter