Jamaica Broadcasting Corp

A PR lessson for Mr Delano Seiveright

We have watched with a great deal of interest and patience, the fuss being made over the ill-advised statement by the G2K's Mr Delano Seiveright about "going after" political commentators opposed to his ruling Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).

Mr Seiveright has, very sensibly, decided to withdraw his remark, recognising that it could be interpreted as meaning physical harm. Hopefully, he will think before speaking so loosely in future.

We believe, of course, that debates of this nature are only useful if they take us to a better place. So far, a good deal of those who have spoken and written on the issue, have stayed with the usual tired old partisan line and have generated serious heat without any enlightenment.

Mr Seiveright will soon learn that complaining about commentators opposed to one 's views or political party is futile. It is part and parcel or what some writers like to call the cut and thrust of democratic politics.

The media has always been at the centre of political activity, because it is the messenger whom no one can do without. As it has been from time immemorial, the messenger has been beaten up when the message was unfavourable. In Medaevial times, the messenger used to be beheaded. Which is why Mr Seiveright - whose enthusiasm we admire - should choose his words more carefully.

In the late 1970s, the Prime Minister at the time, Mr Michael Manley, led a march on The Gleaner, ominously warning: "Next time!" In the 1990s, the JLP marched on the Observer. In the 1980s, the entire newsroom of the then Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC) was sacked by the Edward Seaga Government for having been "a Communist cesspool". The Sunday Herald is now being used by the People's National Party (PNP) to attack its enemies and push its message.

Mr Seiveright can learn a valuable lesson from Mr Manley who found wisely that attacking the media and commentators would not help anyone. He used charm and great intellect to great effect. He was probably the most quoted prime minister and it was not only because he made good copy. One can choose to be foolish and believe that beating up on the messenger will gain media space.

We want to make the point though that it is not critical that commentators declare their party bias, assuming that they have one. What is more important is the truth, or lack thereof, in what they are saying.

Music Matters: Reggae Music and The Jamaican in China! — Jamaican ...

For reasons I’ve yet to fully comprehend, I LOVE playing music for people. It all started back in college when I took over the reins of the “Caribbean Riddims” radio show from then host, Courtney Munroe.  For the next five years, I was known as “Sir Walt” the Reggae Deejay on WKCR-FM’s Thursday night show. (I eventually renamed the show “Reggae Riddims”) I shopped around New York’s many Reggae stores to find the latest and greatest music to play for my audiences. I get a unique thrill knowing that I’m introducing people to music they can listen to, think about, learn from and yes, even dance to.  The best calls I would receive during my shows would begin with the words, “Wow! What was the name of that song you just played…?” Redifusion, and Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation, respectively. On any given day, you could hear soul, calypso, US country music, Jazz and more all one right after the other all on the same station. Even if you didn’t have a short wave radio, like I did, you could pick up Spanish broadcasts from Cuba, which is only 90 miles north of Jamaica. Oddly enough, because of the early reputation of Reggae on the island of Jamaica itself, there was actually a time that it got harder to hear Reggae on Jamaican radio! Yes, it’s true! However, the rise of Reggae’s international appeal–thanks to artists like Bob Marley–changed that. In any event, I’ll speak more about music matters as time goes on, but the reason this all came up, is that I recently realized that my FreeSummerConcerts website is actually an online manifestation of that same passion for sharing music. It takes a slightly different form, but every summer, I compile a list of all the free music concerts taking place in my former “home” of New York City, and I present it on my site and to my mailing list (14,000 people at last count). This is one week when I’d LOVE to be back in New York with you! Aretha Franklin is performing, and Maxi Priest is coming to town! For those of you who didn’t know,(and that would be all of you), I used to be a radio deejay on WKCR-FM, New York. I had a show called “Reggae Riddims” as “Sir Walt.”As such, I got to interview great Reggae performers, and got free tickets to attend concerts, meet the artists backstage and duringrehearsals and more! I was the first deejay on New York radio to play Maxi Priest’s debut album, and had a chance to grab some shotsway, way, way back in the day! So, finally, all these years later, I get to scour through my recently digitized collection of 4,800 photos to find a fewshots to share with you! So, the point is: I’ve got years of stories to tell, photos to share, lyrics to translate, bootleg recordings to play (I never destroy or delete anything), so I’ll be sharing more of my passion for ALL TYPES of music right here on the Jamaican in China blog..(after all, I promised you Reggae music as well as everything else as part of I want to date a Jamaican in China!” , so here’s where I deliver), because….music matters!