Madam Editor makes her mark

Known for her commitment to journalism, Wyvolyn Gager has made a significant impact in the world of mass communication.

It was in 1994 that she became the first woman to become Editor-In-Chief of The Gleaner. She served in this position until the year 2000.

Gager stood out as an editor-in-chief and was well known for taking strong positions in the newsroom while still epitomising the professionalism the role requires.

Determined and confident, she was famous for going the extra mile in the name of good journalism, a fact that set her apart from the competition.

Born and raised in Trelawny, Jamaica by the hands of farmers, Gager acquired a love for writing and the almost necessary curiosity that makes for a good journalist. She attended Westwood High School where she was also outstanding.

Gager’s career included time at The Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation where she covered the career of former Prime Minister Edward Seaga, accompanying him on different trips overseas. Gager also met Nelson Mandela on his famous visit to Jamaica and covered the Queen of England, along with numerous other notable public figures.

As editor-in-chief, she was also ‘notorious’ for caring about the progression of others, especially the young. It was not untypical of her to assist others in ensuring they did more than was expected of them. She believes in pushing the margins to as far as they will go.

Of course, the consistency of Gager’s attitude to journalism over the years has guaranteed her gargantuan respect from her peers. She is referred to as "Madam Editor", even now, more than 20 years later.

Gager first came to The Gleaner in 1975, a young, beautiful, confident woman, ready to conquer the world. She was appointed news editor in 1983, a time when very few women were considered for that post. She also received the Theodore Sealy Award for Best News Story in 1990, one of her favourite awards in her career as a Journalist /Editor.

In 2014 Gager received the Order of Distinction (Officer class) from the Jamaican Government for her contribution to journalism.

After retiring from The Gleaner, she took on freelance assignments after which she established a media consultancy, focusing on her second love, teaching media to young journalists and helping executives to understand the field. For a short while, she was chief executive officer of the Carl Stone Polls.

Outside of media, Gager is also passionate about volunteerism. In particular, she organises her annual summer camp, dubbed ‘Camp Inspire’, for children in the Spring Garden community of Trelawny with support from community members, family and overseas patrons. The camp is geared primarily towards improving the literacy levels of the community’s children as well as building soft skills such as respect and teamwork.

She continues to serve as a volunteer adviser to the Press Association of Jamaica and as a judge on their National Journalism Awards committee. She is married to attorney-at-law, Trevor Patterson. They have two sons.