Media Literacy promotion to begin in Jamaica

Title: Broadcasting Commission Promotes Media Literacy
Source: KINGSTON: Jamaica Information Service (JIS)
Date Published: Wednesday, December 30, 2009
URL: http://jis.gov.jm/officePM/html/20091230T190000-0500_22385_JIS_BROADCASTING_COMMISSION_PROMOTES_MEDIA_LITERACY.asp

Abstract:
Article reports on an interview conducted with the Executive Director of the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica, Cordel Green. Green in the interview states that Jamaicans' participation in the new information economy, needs to move from the position of just being consumers to also being producers of information. TO achieve this, Green suggests that Jamaica needs a media literate populace. Green then highlights the role of the Broadcasting Commission and its role in the development of a media literate populace.

Excerpt:

Executive Director of the Broadcasting Commission, Cordel Green, has said that if Jamaica is to participate, fully, in the new information economy, it will need to develop a media literate population.

According to the Executive Director in an interview with the Jamaica Information Service (JIS), Jamaicans must not be satisfied just being consumers of the products, but must also aim to become creators.

"The ability to access the internet and information is just one part of media literacy, we must also be able to interpret what it is that we are receiving and, most importantly, be able to create content to be able to participate fully in this new information economy and be able to guide ourselves along the highway", he said.

CaribLIN's anniversary reflection and objectives for 2010

Seasons greetings viewers and readers,

I started the Caribbean Library and Information News (CaribLIN) blog in December 2007. This month now marks the second year of its existence. That means that despite my job, family obligations and other activities, I have still managed to keep this blog in existence.

In fact, this year's performance has more than doubled last year's performance.

In December 2007, CaribLIN posted 3 news items.
In December 2008, 4 news items were posted.
For this December, 2009, a total of 7 news items will be posted.

In addition, in December 2007, CaribLIN began with 7 posts. By December 2008, CaribLIN was able to triple that, posting 28 posts for that year. As of December 2009, CaribLIN would be posting 112 blog entries for the year. That is an average of 9.33 entries a month.

Blog entries this year have posted news items from Jamaica, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados. In addition, CaribLIN was able to reach new audiences, when some of its entries were featured in IASL Newsletter.

For 2010, the objectives for Carib LIN are to:

• maintain the blog entries on the Caribbean library and information environment to at least 3 entries per month.


• include more English-speaking Caribbean islands in its coverage other than Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Guyana


• maintain grammatically and error free entries, while ensuring that this blog is accurate, trustworthy and reliable.

Ultimately, CaribLIN's renewed 2010's purpose or mission is to:

• provide a voice in the blogosphere for issues in Caribbean library and information service environment


• and to report developments that are of interest to and affect librarians and information professionals who have an interest in the region

.

Thank you and Regards,

Mark-Shane Scale
Blog Editor and Chief Contributor


Works Cited:

Scale, Mark-Shane "Regional Perspective: Caribbean School Libraries News from the Web (Jan - Apr, 2009)." IASL Newsletter 38.2 (2009): 8. Library, Information Science & Technology Abstracts with Full Text. EBSCO. Web. 10 Dec. 2009

Promised Jamaican Youth Information Centre Delayed

Author: CHARLES BROWN
Title: St Thomas youth still waiting (Letter to the Editor)
Date Published: Friday | December 18, 2009
Source: Jamaica Gleaner
URL: http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20091218/letters/letters2.html

Abstract:
Article reveals a citizens remarks on the delay in the establishment of a youth information centre in their parish. The citizen/author publicly reminds the Editor and the authorities of some of the facts reported regarding the establishment of the youth centre.


Excerpt:

"On Saturday, March 23, 2008, this newspaper published an article titled 'Youth information centre for St Thomas by year-end'.

Dania Beckford, youth infor-mation specialist at the National Centre for Youth Development, was responding to a letter by Charlie Brown published on May 19, 2008, titled 'St Thomas youth need help'. The information specialist stated that the parish of St Thomas was next to benefit from this imperative resource (a youth information centre) for youth development.

She further stated that, to date, two locations had been identified to host the youth information centre: one at the now-closed Goodyear tyre factory, and the other on land adjoining the Social Development Commission's office, both located on the Springfield main road. Site visits had been conducted and proper protocol arrangements are already under way to formalise the agreement to set up a well-designed reconfiguration of four containers in the allocated space of approximately 467 square metres at the latter location. The project is funded by UNICEF and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2009 calendar year."