HYMAN
RALSTON HYMAN, the host and Executive Producer of the acclaimed business and financial programme Real Business on Power 106 FM, was recently awarded the prestigious Morris Cargill Award for Opinion Journalism from the Press Association of Jamaica. While he has been lauded for the selection, it really comes as no surprise to those who are familiar with this extra-ordinarily gifted man.
With over twenty years of experience, Hyman has worked his way into becoming one of the country's leading financial analysts. He is the recipient of several journalism and broadcasting awards for business writing and reporting, including the prestigious Theodore Sealy Award for print journalism, The Kellogg Foundation Award for distinguished academic performance and the Canute James Award for business and financial reporting. Hyman is also the financial editor for the Sunday Herald newspaper.
INSIGHTFUL ANALYST
To the listening and reading audience in Jamaica, Hyman is known as an insightful analyst who has the amazing and rare ability to convey matters of finance and business in 'real' terms so much so that the ordinary man can understand how it relates to their everyday life. He bridges the gap between economic theory and reality. This atypical trait has added to the success and popularity of both his columns and 'Real Business' - the radio programme.
Being no stranger to the international financial community Hyman was nominated in 2000 to the International WHO'S WHO Global Listing of Top Professionals. He has been invited to make presentations at several functions around the world including: The University of Columbia's Graduate School of International Studies' seminar on Globalization with Professor Jeffrey Sachs. At this seminar, he exchanged ideas with some of the leading economists in the world. Mr. Hyman also accompanied former Prime Minister Michael Manley on his visit to Japan and China, studying the nuances of Japanese commodities and financial markets.
He also received a fellowship from the German Government, which enabled him to study the workings of the European Single Market, as well as European financial and commodities markets. Ralston was actually in Germany when the Berlin Wall fell in 1991.
These tremendous achievements coupled with his passion for economic issues and a relentless attitude towards self-improvement have added to the success of any venture that Hyman chooses to undertake. Since its inception on January 17, 2005, 'Real Business' has garnered noteworthy market response. According to an independent survey conducted by Market Research Services, 'Real Business' on its best day commands an average 15-minute listenership of 57,500. This overwhelming response to the show is further illustrated by the large influx of emails and phone calls to the Power 106 Business Centre, with comments relating to topics discussed on the show or listeners asking Hyman's advice on financial or economic issues.
SIMPLIFYING COMPLEX ECONOMIC MATTERS
The programme was conceptualised with a vision to simplify complex economic matters, disseminate accurate information, assist in the formation of macro economic policy and to improve and sensitise the ordinary Jamaican to intricate financial issues. Based on the overwhelming response to the show, Hyman appears to have realised this vision as the word among many corporate executives, public sector decision makers and the ordinary man on the street is that, "Real Business is the best business show on radio." Noted financial analyst Dennis Chung remarks that "Real Business is the most informative financial show on radio today." He also adds that Ralston is very knowledgeable about regional and international issues. Chief executive officer of Super Plus Food Stores, Wayne Chen, echoes these sentiments. He believes, "Ralston is one of the best business writers in the country" and that "Real Business is a very good show - it is always, comprehensive and to the point."
The guests on the programme include most of Jamaica's senior corporate executives as well as academics from both here and overseas, trade union leaders and top analysts from the leading financial institutions both here and overseas. Mr. Hyman is known for his sharp and well-informed opinions. Guests to the programme as well as the listeners have come to expect clean, clear-cut analysis of the issues of the day, comprehensive and in-depth coverage of local economic and financial news as well as informative issues relating to daily investment decisions. All the while maintaining the important link between the political and economic spheres of society.
DISSEMINATION OF ACCURATE INFORMATION
Hyman, throughout his financial and journalistic career, has maintained that the dissemination of accurate information is paramount to the smooth functioning of markets and the overall development of the country, to this end; he has dedicated his life to do just that, only the information he provides is not only accurate but also timely, profound and efficiently disseminated.
For the future he hopes to use the 'Real Business' radio programme as a vehicle to influence the direction of local, regional and international economic policies and to garner an international audience.
