THE PRESS Association of Jamaica (PAJ) has announced that National Journalism Week will be observed from November 29 to December 5 under the theme: 'Advancing Quality Journalism: Safeguarding Democracy'.

Media practitioners in western Jamaica will kick off the week's activities by participating in a religious service at the Calvary Baptist Church in Montego Bay. Members of the PAJ Executive will also be in attendance. The church service will be followed by a brunch hosted by Jamaica Money Market Brokers Limited, during which several media practitioners will be presented with certificates of participation in an Advanced News-writing Techniques workshop held earlier in the year.

On Tuesday, December 2, several videographers and photographers will be honoured for distinguished service at the annual Veterans' Luncheon, hosted by Wray and Nephew Limited.

National Journalism Week climaxes with the staging of the annual National Journalism Awards ceremony at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel on Friday. According to PAJ President Byron Buckley, "This is the premier event of the year that recognises excellence in journalism."

Buckley discloses that 18 awards are up for grabs, including the latest addition - Best Entertainment Journalist. He points out that the PAJ Executive has introduced new procedures for the selection of Journalist of the Year. Media houses, he explains, are requested to submit the names of employees whose work, they believe, qualifies them to be awarded Journalist of the Year. Media houses are then requested to send the names to an oversight committee to be chaired by former PAJ President Ben Brodie. The committee will be comprised of representatives from several media houses.

Oversight Committee

Buckley states that the duty of the oversight committee is to examine the journalists' work recommended by media houses and to recommend to the PAJ Executive the person, whose contribution to the profession during the period under review, is the best candidate for Journalist of the Year. The person being recommended by the oversight committee as Journalist of the Year must be agreed on by at least two-thirds of the oversight committee. The PAJ president notes that the executive may not name a Journalist of the Year if the person recommended by the oversight committee receives less than an average of 70 per cent on the mark sheets.

Leading up to National Journalism Week, the PAJ, with the support of the United States Embassy Public Affairs Section, will host several consultations with media workers across the island to review the draft revised Code of Practice for Media Practitioners.