JIS Showcases Technology in Media

'Technology in Media' was the focus of a presentation by the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) at the first Information Technology (IT) Exposition hosted on Friday, (November 16), by the Convent of Mercy Academy "Alpha".

The event, held under the theme: ‘Technology in Motion’, was attended by a number of organisations, representatives of which presented on how technology enhances work in various fields.

Explaining the reason for staging the event, Acting Head of the IT Department at the all-girls school, Patrice Pryce, pointed to the rapid growth of technology globally and the need for the students to understand how technology enhances the various career fields.

"Technology is everywhere and we just want to get the girls sensitised. They think IT is a career by itself and we (also) want them to know that it is a part of every single career,” Mrs. Pryce told JIS News.

She said that JIS was a good choice for showcasing the integration of technology into the daily activities of the media.

As the information arm of the Government of Jamaica, the JIS is a multi-faceted communication agency, which offers a wide range of media products and services for print, radio, television and the web. “The young people are going into media and we want them to know that in media there is technology,” Mrs. Pryce said.

JIS Systems Administrator, Andre Allen, conducted a dynamic presentation, illustrating technology and its various applications, including software and hardware, which are employed in the production of JIS’ programmes.

“It is important to see that IT is not something that you just learn about in class as theory.  It is something that we must utlise in our various departments at work in a very practical way to produce books, news releases, videos for TV, audio for radio and of course, all the material you find on our website,” Mr. Allen said.

Sixth form IT student of the school, Toussan Cawley, acknowledged the importance of technology in modern lifestyles and how essential it is to keep abreast with the various gadgets and methods. “Technology is moving at a rapid pace, and I’m young so I don’t want to be left behind,” she stated.

The exposition began with an opening ceremony, followed by presentations from representatives of various agencies to groups of students in various locations on the campus.

Other organisations included GeoInformatics Institute, Hawkeye, Guardian Life, Johnson and Johnson, The Gleaner, Teens for Technology, Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) and the Supreme Court.