Leethan Grandison writes off law, chooses media

Garfene Grandison, Gleaner Writer

Leethan Grandison says "Initially, I told my parents I wanted to start writing as a means of improving my English, but honestly, I saw a way of crafting the career I wanted. In a sense, it was sort of saying 'I am choosing this' instead of the law that was often echoed that I should do - not that I had a problem with it, but I just wanted to do something more engaging.

"After starting with the Writer's Bureau College of Journalism, and on advice from my tutor, I first started scouting out local papers and a few international media houses. Shortly after, I was submitting articles to The Gleaner's Youthlink, then Teen Herald. I attempted submissions to the X-News and Jamaica Observer, but at the time it never worked. Not long after, I made headway in The Gleaner and The Star, branched off into the world of radio, did voice acting for well over a year and started producing the programme 'Will Power' on Roots 96.1FM," he said.

Grandison continued: "In 2004, I was awarded the Prime Minister's National Youth for Excellence in Journalism. I moved on from radio and did a stint with Simber Productions, who are the producers of 'The Susan Show', where I had the opportunity of creating Jamaica's first documentary on Hurricane Gilbert and started a pilot project for a history documentary show in Jamaica. I did some experiments with public and media relations after my stint at Simber and now enjoy the world of blogging!"

How long have you been in this field?

I've been involved in media/journalism since late 2002

Where have you studied?

Does this involve practical experience? But seriously, nothing beats a better teacher than practice, and I must say I'm rather thankful for the experiences that I've gathered both locally and internationally, from print, social marketing, radio, television and public relations with various entities such as The Gleaner and Reader's Digest. The formal aspect of my studying was done with the Writers' Bureau College of Journalism, Manchester, England, with whom I completed a diploma in freelance journalism, mostly through home courses.

Why this career path?

Most of the
time, I tell persons this was my first love - I mean, next to my mother -
but I remember way back when TVJ was JBC and Sandra Faulkner and Helene
Coley Nicholson were the divas of prime time TV. Over the years, I
admired how every evening they would grace the newscast and it just
dawned on me that I wanted to be in there where they were, so much that I
remember being jeered with the name 'Helene Coley'. Since then, I have
found that I have evolved from that childhood dream of just wanting to
be on TV as an anchor/presenter but to own it and help bring glee to
others. I think Oprah did that to
me.

How was the process when you first
started in this career field?

I started
off as a freelance writer, and trust me, it was (in Kartel's voice)
'not nice'! I would submit my material and noting would be printed. I
remember I got a response from an editor and when I submitted the story
there was nothing else. So I had to deal with the rejection at first,
and I believe my tutor wanted me to experience it so that it could build
my character from a local standpoint. I think it worked because I
eventually submitted to Reader's
Digest.

What are you currently
doing to further develop your ambitions for your career
path?

Right now, it's all about
network, creating a buzz and ensuring there is something out in the
digital world. I started a general-interest blog called Dexter
Communications Inc late last year to create that digital footprint. I
have this thing that I'm going to be a media mogul and so I have lately
started popping in at auditions asking for hosts/presenters of new or
existing programmes, hoping that I'll be
discovered.

What do you hope to achieve
in 10 years?

In 10 years, a powerhouse.
Period! Influential, powerful, famous and a social
entrepreneur.

What drives and inspires
your career path?

I find mostly it's
the level of interaction that it gives me, and especially when you know
or you're told that you have assisted in enacting some amount of change.
It's that little that you get when your audience says 'thanks' or 'love
that you do this'.

What do you have to
offer as the future of the next
generation?

The opportunities for the
future are endless, and so, too, is the creativity. As the time changes,
I'm expecting that my creativity intellect will surprise me and help in
transforming the business and communication
fields.

Do you consider yourself to be
revolutionary. How do you plan to change the game/your
field?

Following the norm has always
been an annoying thing for me and so I usually end up doing my thing! My
friends at times call me 'extremist'.

I wouldn't say I
know this is the one specific way to dismantle the problems that are
now within my field. Take, for example, that media is commonly
associated with older folks, with fewer young people being given a fair
chance of proving themselves. I'm expecting that can be
change.

Besides access to education,
what do you think needs to be done in order to transform youth in
Jamaica?

Wider and varied opportunities
to allow young people to unlock their potential, with creative
institutions that cater to the various career-driven areas which they
want to partake in. I also believe that there needs to be many more
social safety networks, like mentoring of at-risk youth, and the greater
involvement of private and public institutions in national
development.

Distinguish yourself from
your peers.

Put me in the crowd and
you'll see the difference.

Old men rule
the world, true or false? Why?

False.
Cranky old men can't rule the world. Can you imagine how most miserable
we'll all be?

What's been the most
challenging part of making a name for yourself in your
field?

I think the challenging part is
knowing who to trust, because there are so many persons out there who
want to help you and then there is another set wanting you to fail. You
have to have courage!