Jamaican Bar Association President Jacqueline Samuels-Brown will be the keynote speaker at the Annual Journalism Awards ceremony to be held on December 4 at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston.

The awards ceremony climaxes National Journalism Week, which will be observed from November 29-December 5 under the theme 'Advancing Quality Journalism: Safeguarding Democracy'.

Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) President Byron Buckley said Samuels-Brown was one of two legal luminaries who would participate in National Journalism Week activities.

18 awards up for grabs

"We will have the double and distinct pleasure to be addressed by Director of Public Prosecutions Paula Llewellyn at our Veteran's luncheon, followed by the Bar Association president at the awards ceremony," Buckley noted.

This is the final week for media houses to submit nominations for 18 awards that are up for grabs, including the recent addition - Best Entertainment Journalist. Saturday, November 21 is the deadline for entries to be delivered to the offices of the PAJ.

"The secretariat is prepared to start receiving entries on Monday. The earlier the material is received, the more time judges will have to do their assessment," the PAJ president advised.