THE EDITOR, Sir:PERMIT ME to respond as Chief Judge of the Press Association of Jamaica's (PAJ) Annual National Awards to your columnist Ian Boyne (December 07, pp.1,8).
I commend Mr. Boyne for making suggestions to improve this aspect of the PAJ, for the ideas he mooted are the ideals we are pursuing, and we certainly welcome help from any source, including such an outstanding journalist as Mr. Boyne.
However, I would encourage Mr. Boyne to perhaps give greater heed to the professional journalistic principles of extensive research and balanced coments.
In the said opinion piece, he expressed his preference for a PAJ award system that does not require journalists to submit entry material. Such a practice, he argues, serves to 'diminish the awards.' We respect his opinion even if not all would agree. Furthermore, he seems to feel strongly about the case he makes from the standpoint that some journalists are likely to miss out in getting an award, merely because they failed to remember a closing date.
His concerns are valid but not neglected. Over the years, the PAJ judging system caters for such lapses, especially if work is exceptional. Certainly, for the last two years that I have been Chief Judge, all media are monitored year round, and I dare to say, all outstanding journalistic work has been considered.
Of course, Mr. Boyne's suggestions might prove difficult to implement immediately, but I would assure him that we are working on it!
I am, etc.,
BILLY HALL
billsophia@hotmail.com
Chief Judge, Press Association of Jamaica
