Gordon Robinson | It’s a wrap

Last Sunday, the final edition of one of RJR’s flagship radio programmes, That’s a Rap, aired on RJR94FM.

It was all a part of the forced contraction and consolidation in reaction to RJRGLEANER Group’s mounting losses. Broadcasts by two of the Group’s stations, Power 106 and Hitz92 were announced to be “temporarily” suspended and some of their programs assimilated into the Group’s lead stations, RJR94FM, and Fame FM.

The Gleaner hasn’t been untouched by the cataclysm as it was also announced previously that its headquarters on North Street was (or was to be) sold and the newspaper’s operations moved to Lyndhurst Road to join the amalgamation at that location. Even before that a deal with the Observer for joint printing services was also made known.

After fifty-seven years, the Old Lady of North Street is moving out. Let’s hope she isn’t being put into a retirement home.

All of this was, in my opinion, inevitable. Advancing technology; a variety of new digital media outlets, including social media; and the intervention of AI among many other distractions like streaming services all finally exposed Jamaica’s irrational media policy whereby, more than 15 years ago, over twenty radio licenses were granted. Eventual retrenchment was as predictable as Fred Sanford’s conversations with his dead wife, Elizabeth.

So I took it all in stride. In particular, I’ve maintained for over twenty years that to call the Gleaner or Observer “newspapers” has long been redundant. Some of their online efforts can sometimes (not often) be called “news” but the “paper” part of their operations doesn’t contain anything properly called “news”. Long before the papers hit the streets, “news” sections are outdated.

I’ve consistently advised that they should pivot to emphasizing content unavailable to “Influencers” and “Social Media news types” such as Investigative Journalism, Opinion (see what I did there?) and leisure. But, as every lawyer knows, clients only ask for advice but rarely act on it. So we still find front pages beating yesterday’s news to death while investigative reporting on the reasons for and causes of yesterday’s news is rare.

Mark you, the continued absence of Freedom of the Press in the Constitution has been an obstruction especially to investigative journalism but, like every other life endeavour, reporting isn’t a bed of roses and media must play the cards they are dealt until a better hand turns up.

So, media deals; media movements; radio stations’ “temporary” closure; consolidation of radio programs; all were greeted by me with a yawn. But I was rudely awoken by the decision to cancel one of my favourite programs, That’s a Rap. I felt like Shoeless Joe Jackson as I reflexively shouted out loud “Say it ain’t so!”

My connection to That’s a Rap is umbilical.

That’s a Rap premiered on RJR 94FM on August 10, 2008. Two days later my first column appeared in the Daily Gleaner. On August 10, That’s a Rap discussed the 46th anniversary of Jamaica’s Independence. On August 12, my first regular column told of a Khooky Khast of Kharacters around a domino table decrying Jamaica’s loss of independence with its return to the IMF.

We’ve pretty much moved in lockstep ever since!

That’s a Rap’s inaugural panel consisted of Ian Wilkinson, Martin Henry and Paget Defreitas. Lawyer; Academic/Columnist; and Journalist! That variety and balance was to be a golden thread running throughout the program’s life. Panelists have continuously evolved but intellect, variety and balance has been constant. Economist Chris Stokes was an early and frequent addition as was iconic broadcaster Fae Ellington, gender and development advocate and academic Judith Wedderburn and, latterly, Deacon Peter Espeut.

Variety, intellect; balance. Always!

Current regulars Clive Munroe and Nicole Gordon have carried the baton admirably. For 18 years no newsworthy topic was untouched by That’s a Rap but, notably, one feature of Jamaican life has been consistently absent namely partisan politics. That’s a Rap’s panelists’ analysis has always been precise, pellucid and pointed but never political.

Which brings me to my real point: I know the conventional wisdom is that it’s the show that counts and not the participants but the fact is this show’s heart and soul was Earl Moxam.

That’s a Rap’s character; content; core comes from Earl whose career has been permeated with dogged pursuit of truth; abhorrence of bias; and deep appreciation for history and its influence on current events. Earl Moxam came to journalism in 1992 and almost immediately became RJR’s go-to guy for composed, meticulous analysis of national and international events.

In January 1997, it was Earl who asked visiting former USA President Jimmy Carter at a Press Conference THE question. I mean the question that was at the heart of Jamaica’s historic political divisions. The question every Jamaican wanted to ask but didn’t.

He didn’t shirk. He wasn’t abrasive.

That seminal moment in Jamaican journalism is captured in Earl’s excellent memoir titled Vantage Point:

“Carter hosted a press conference jointly with P.J. Patterson at Jamaica House. I managed to put two questions to him, one more provocative than the other.

In response to an earlier question, Carter had reiterated his long friendship with and admiration for Michael Manley... Those were sentiments which I knew Manley also held concerning Jimmy Carter. Nevertheless, I felt obliged to put the following question to him:

‘Mr. Carter, Michael Manley remains convinced to this day that the American Central Intelligence Agency was involved in destabilizing his administration in the 1970s. However, he has always sought to exonerate you personally from complicity in this. (But) could the President of the United States have been unaware of the actions of the CIA?’

“Mr. Patterson, as was his style, had his head slightly bowed as he peered over his glasses with a slight smile. He had been in the heat of the battle with Michael Manley during the 1970s, serving in the final years as Deputy Prime Minister, as well as Minister of Foreign Affairs, so he was only too aware of the contentious issues to which I was making reference.

“Seated close to the two leaders as well was Dr. Robert Pastor, one of Mr. Carter’s senior aides who had also served as his Deputy National Security Advisor for Latin America and the Caribbean during the White House years. After a quick consultation with Pastor and Patterson, the former President gave this response: ‘I think it’s accurate to say that Michael Manley never alleged that under my Administration, the CIA or anyone else in the United States attempted to undermine his Administration. That was prior to the time that I was President. If the CIA had attempted to undermine the Government of Jamaica when I was President, I would certainly have known about it.’”

Michael Manley died on March 6, 1997. It was Earl who was tasked with waking Eddie Seaga up to deliver the news and record Seaga’s reaction. Again he faithfully records his experience in Vantage Point:

“Seaga was not a man to be trifled with, so you had better have a good reason to be calling him after midnight! I had struck up a good professional relationship with him and perceived that he respected my work, so that was of some reassurance.

“Still, it was somewhat tentatively that I placed that call:

“It was not his but the voice of Mrs. Carla Seaga at the other end, which was both a source of some relief and a cause of further apologies. Immediately upon explaining my reason for this late intrusion, however, she agreed it was worth the call and told her husband.

“Predicting his immediate response was not easy. Given the tumultuous nature of his relationship with Michael Manley for much of their time in public life together, would he go beyond a routine expression of regret?

“His response, when it came through from the background, was one of raw human empathy: “Ohh no!”

“That expression said it all.”

THIS is Earl Moxam - the quintessential journalist. THIS is who made That’s a Rap a must listen every Sunday. It’s definitely a wrap for That’s a Rap but I guarantee you Earl Moxam will heed Edna’s advice to Norman, in the wake of the loss of Drumblair, and press on Regardless. Jamaica will benefit.

Peace and Love.

Gordon Robinson is an attorney-at-law. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com