Chester Francis-Jackson, Contributor
Suzette Rochester (left) of Victoria Mutual Building Society with Carmen Patterson (centre) of Innovative Ideas, and Oral McCook of OGM Integrated Ltd. photo by Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer
And so, it's that time of the year again, when the island's premier source of news, The Gleaner, plays host to its principal supporters - the advertising agencies and their staff - in its annual thank-yous. Through their support by way of direct placement in the company's very many and varied products, they offer an array of product choices not only to the discerning advertiser, seeking maximum return and exposure for, but also, and perhaps more importantly, providing readers with a diverse multi-packaged offering.
They give the news consumer a variety of specialised products, targeting many facets of the news and entertainment that the savvy news consumer has grown to expect.
That The Gleaner and its publications stand head and shoulder above the rest in this area of service is not to be questioned. The market, however, remains dynamic and this behoves even leaders of the stature of this esteemed newspaper to constantly reinvent itself and products to not only remain valid, but to maintain its supremacy as the country's newspaper of choice, and consequentially, its primary source of news!
In this ever-evolving age of mass media, that now includes an increasing number of e-media services, Gleaner publications have their work cut out in maintaining its position of primacy.
venerable institution
The Gleaner represents a venerable institution; its publications are regarded as the Bible of their genres. In fact, the newspaper is such an established news medium in the minds and hearts of most Jamaicans that, from time to time, even non-Gleaner publications have been referred to as The Gleaner.
Such, my dears, is the power of the near 200-year-old grande dame of North Street!
Now, the story is told by a famous advertising personality of many years ago, of his meeting Prince Phillip at a reception in his honour in Kingston. The Prince enquired of him what business he was in, and in replying "advertising", the Prince raised his eyebrows quizzically, and questioned - "Really?"
Well, that was then; today, for the most part, the advertising industry is at the top of its game, its creative genius providing grist for many an informed discussion, as well as many a punchline for those with that discriminating sense of elan and/or plain old savvy!
That The Gleaner has lauded its principal advertising agencies and advertisers in general with an annual banquet speaks to the acknowledge-ment and importance of the role they play in bringing the news to the people.
Last Monday, this here scribe guested, courtesy of MacMillan Advertisers, at the annual Advertising Agency Award, hosted at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel, Knutsford Boulevard, and dears, in a nutshell, the affair was one fierce lunchtime do!
To begin with, Kingston is the city of three-hour power lunches and cocktails, and so, commencing at half-past midday, the hour was absolutely pretty nigh perfect for the absolute lyme! Well, my dears, so it was, and then some, as the afternoon began on a note of high spirits with advertising executives and industry leaders meeting and greeting each other. The cocktail prelude was abuzz with personalities.
power lunch
Then it was time for a power lunch, made that much more exciting and enjoyable by the fun and games that were employed, and saw guests either winning spot prizes and/or cash prizes from the bounty of Scratch and Win games, made available through the kind courtesy of Supreme Ventures Limited. There were also cinema tickets and electronic gadgetry.
Dears, it made for one fun-filled and fine afternoon, made that much more so because there really was no long and tedious officialdom here.
No, this was not one of those - after all, this was a Gleaner event, with standards to maintain, and so it was a spirited ceremony, executed faultlessly between lunch and dessert, and after the lunchtime cabaret performances by Digicel's Rising Stars 2006 finalists and top act, Nickeisha Barnes and One Third, in that order. Their performances were so creditable, it was all-engaging!
Adrian Robinson, and Eileen Henry-Lewis accepted the trophy, for the Top Advertising Agency, for The Marketing Counsellors. Siblings Patrick and Kirk Waldemar of WaterWorks came in second; and Robert MacMillan and his heir apparent, son Travis MacMillan, from MacMillan Advertisers, who not only came in third, but was also adjudged the Most Improved Agency - topped it all and crowned an afternoon of advertising distinction!
Among the notables spotted included: Regional business tycoon Las Chin; Douglas and MelanieGraham; Richard and Diana Stewart; Christopher Roberts; the oh so charming Corina Meeks; Andrew Issa; the fabulous Sheila Benjamin McNeil, of the Guardsman Group; William Tavares-Finson; the lovely Lisa McGregor Johnston; Gordon Arnold; the charming Marjoram Burrows; Andrew Rousseau; Carmine Tippling; Maj Gregory Webster; President of the NWT E.G. Hunter; the indomitable Tony Ray of JPSCo.; Digital's Harry Smith; the charming Karen Phillips and Christopher Hardy of Cable and Wireless; Carib Cement's Lustre Sharpe; the lovely Jean Lowrie Chin of PRO; Tony Scott of JCR; JJ Foot and his sister Kimberly Foot of Advertising and Marketing; the charming Carmen Patterson; Donna Reid; Kim Bernard; Chris daCosta; Loran Weeks; Trevor King; Debra Colleens; Omaha Smith; plus several scores others.
Indeed, it was quite the affair!
