- Junior Dowie/Staff Photographer
Glenn Guimond (left), public affairs officer at the United States Embassy in Kingston, shakes hands with Desmond Richards, president of the Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ), at the signing of a grant to the PAJ at the embassy's Oxford Road, New Kingston, offices yesterday.

The United States Embassy in Kingston yesterday donated nearly US$5,000 to the Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ), to strengthen the association's outreach programmes.

Glenn Guimond, public relations officer at the U.S. Embassy and Desmond Richards, president of the PAJ, signed an agreement at the Embassy's New Kingston office for a grant totalling US$4,792 (J $313,500).

Mr. Guimond said the donation would assist the PAJ with its ability to reach out and inform its members of concerns in the media landscape.

The PAJ president said the grant would fund campaigns dedicated to journalism month in November.

Seminars

"We are going to be having seminars to inform those who are our members and members of the public about the urgent need to reform the Defamation and Libel Act," Mr Richards said.

The seminars will feature both local and overseas speakers.

Mr. Guimond said the U.S. Embassy will continue to work with the PAJ as well as the Media Association of Jamaica to encourage conversation and action through outreach, education and information.

The PAJ head also noted that a part of the grant will go towards three educational scholarships for members of the PAJ in the upcoming academic year.