St. George’s, May 9, 2010 – Junior Information Minister, Senator Arley Gill, is lamenting what he calls the steep “decline’’ in the quality of media output, particularly in broadcasting.
Sen. Gill, speaking at a graduation ceremony for 12 students who had completed a media training programme, encouraged them to take seriously their responsibility as communicators.
“We must set standards in the media,’’ Sen. Gill said. “What you do in the media reflect on the country. Your responsibility is to ensure a proper image is projected at all times.’’
The Senator, who is also Minister of State with responsibility for Culture, claimed that the country has experienced a “sharp decline in broadcasting’’ with the advent of talkshows, with people calling radio and television programmes and making “irresponsible and libellous statements.’’
Mr. Gill commended the students for attending the training exercise, and congratulated the parents for supporting their children throughout the 14-week media programme.
American-trained broadcaster, Anthony Jericho Greenidge, a popular announcer on WEE FM Radio, organised and facilitated the training.
It covered a range of topics, including news and commercial presentation, news writing and talkshow hosting.
The May 7 graduation in St. George’s was attended by parents of the students, as well as Ministers Gill and Patrick Simmons; Rawle Titus, president of the Media Workers Association of Grenada; veteran media practitioner, Josephine McGuire; and author and journalist, Lincoln Toro Depradine, Communications Director in the Ministry of Information.
Hon. Simmons, Minister of Youth Empowerment and Sports, lauded Mr. Greenidge for organising the training. Like Sen. Gill, he also was high in praise for the demonstration of parental support and for the student involvement in the programme.
“We must all be happy with every opportunity for training for young people. I really want to congratulate the young people,’’ said Mr. Simmons, MP for St. Andrew South-East.
Sen. Gill, Public Relations Officer of the National Democratic Congress, said the training was a “platform’’ for careers in fields such as journalism, marketing and public relations.
“I want you to see this training session as the beginning and not the end,’’ the Senator told the graduating students who included soca artiste, Luni Sparks. “You are embarking on a career.’’