CARIMAC, Southern Oregon University to host forum on ‘Democracy in the Digital Age’ at UWI

The Caribbean School of Media and Communication (CARIMAC), in partnership with Southern Oregon University’s Democracy Project, is set to host a thought-shifting media and democracy public forum on Wednesday, June 25 at the UWI Mona campus.

The forum, to be held under the theme, “Democracy in the Digital Age: Challenges and Opportunities for Jamaica’s Media Landscape”, is a central component of SOU’s internationally acclaimed Democracy Project – an initiative that fosters global dialogue on democracy through student travel and intercultural exchange.

This year, the programme spotlights Jamaica, and will see students engaged in activities aimed at deepening their understanding of the country’s history, culture and social realities. The media and democracy forum will delve into the evolving role of media in democracy, youth engagement, and the digital transformation of political discourse. It will feature a distinguished panel of political scientists from the UWI and SOU, and journalists and media professionals from Jamaica. These include Dr. Michelle Munroe, head of the Political Science Unit at UWI, Mona and Professor Emeritus, Sociology & Environmental Studies at SOU, Dr Mark Shibley, along with Dashan Hendricks, president of the Press Association of Jamaica, and senior journalist at Nationwide News Network, George Davis.

Noted media professional and attorney-at-law, Helene Coley-Nicholson will serve as moderator.

Topics to be discussed include the profound impact of social media on political discourse, the complexities of media bias, and the significant shifts in Jamaica’s media landscape since independence.

According to CARIMAC Director, Dr Patrick Prendergast, “It is critical that we not only encourage and promote dialogue and participation as key elements of a democratic society but also to interrogate the ways in which media contribute to that process. CARIMAC, as a higher education institution, must also play its part in creating the opportunities for that critical reflection. This is what this forum and partnership with SOU’s Democracy Project is about.”

Dr Larry Gibbs, Associate Professor of Sociology at SOU, is in full support of the collaboration, adding, “The CARIMAC/SOU Forum’s focus on ‘Democracy in the Digital Age’ is incredibly timely, especially as we examine Jamaica’s media landscape. Understanding how digital advancements shape information access, public discourse, and even communication across media is paramount.”

“This forum offers a crucial platform for exploring both the opportunities for greater democratic participation and the challenges of misinformation and inequality that arise in our increasingly digital world. We anticipate robust discussions that will inform more resilient and inclusive media strategies.”, says Dr Gibbs.

The event is scheduled to begin at 10a.m. on Wednesday, June 25 at the Faculty of Social Sciences Lecture Theatre (SSLT) and is free and open to the public. UWI and other university students in journalism, political science, government, and marketing and communication are especially encouraged to attend.