PAJ condemns politicisation of the role of journalists in national debate

The Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ), the body that represents journalists in the island, has expressed alarm over the “recent unprecedented public disclosures by both the People’s National Party (PNP) and the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP)" about objections to specific media professionals proposed by the Jamaica Debates Commission to serve as questioners or moderators in the forthcoming national political debates.

A release this afternoon from PAJ president Dashan Hendricks said the “alarming development threatens to erode the independence and integrity of the press by politicising the role of journalists in a process that should remain impartial, transparent, and free from partisan interference.”

“The PAJ expresses deep concern over this significant departure from established norms, whereby individual journalists’ names and media organisations have been publicly cited and politicised in the selection process for debate panellists.

Historically, such matters have been handled discreetly and internally by the Jamaica Debates Commission to safeguard the integrity, independence, and impartiality essential to the democratic process,” said Hendricks.

He was greatly concerned over the public release of names and details of political party preferences or objections concerning media participants.

He said such disclosures, “seriously undermine the perceived independence of the media and the debate process; raise troubling questions about freedom of the press and the protection of journalists from political interference and risk eroding public confidence in the impartiality and fairness of the national debates.”

The PAJ is calling for the Jamaica Debates Commission to assert its authority and ensure a transparent, fair, and unbiased process. It also asked the parties “to uphold press freedom and refrain from actions that politicise or undermine the essential role of journalists in democratic governance, and the wider media community and public to remain vigilant in defending the principles of journalistic independence and democratic integrity.”

The PAJ, Hendricks said, remains committed to collaborating with all stakeholders to protect media freedom and uphold the highest standards of journalistic professionalism during this crucial electoral period.

“The PAJ reiterates that a free and independent press is fundamental to democracy, and that editorial and journalistic independence must never be compromised by political interests. Journalists and media professionals should be permitted to participate in political debates on the basis of their professionalism, qualifications, and contribution to public discourse — not their political connections or the preferences of political actors,” said Hendricks.

- Erica Virtue

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