Shelly-Ann Thompson, Staff Reporter 
The Gleaner's chief photographer, Rudolph Brown, beams as he accepts his award for excellence in photography from Doreen O'Connor, director of corporate relations at the Urban Development Corporation. The occasion was the Press Association of Jamaica National Journalism awards banquet held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel on Friday. - Colin Hamilton/Freelance Photographer
At the Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) Annual Journalism Awards ceremony on Friday, media houses were charged to go beyond the call of duty and use their platform as a tool to assist in fighting the country's escalating crime rate .
Gordon 'Butch' Stewart, guest speaker, at the function, which was held at The Jamaica Pegasus hotel, New Kingston, said Jamaica was stretched to the limit with regard to crime, and this was crippling the country's ability to succeed at the international level.
Stewart, chairman of the Sandals/ATL Group, said "some magic" is needed when it comes to solving the country's murder rate that has surpassed 1,400 deaths since January, including the murder of six policemen in just under a month.
"It (crime) intimidates our communities, it puts fear into people, stress and pain," said Stewart.
"However, this time, we need some magic. We need a magic wand," he said.
Calling on the power of press freedom, Stewart charged journalists to take up their responsibility and hold politicians accountable for decreasing the murder figures.
"The press as a tool against crime is useful, against the Government, who will see to it that they do the things to deal with the crime," he told journalists.
The awards ceremony was the highlight of the PAJ's annual observance of 'Journalism Week', which was held under the theme 'A Free Press, The Oxygen of Democracy'.
Desmond Richards, president of the 64-year-old organisation, said that journalists must also assist in crime fighting and do more than just report the bloodletting.
"I think the time has come for us to play a more meaningful role regarding crime and violence in Jamaica," said Richards.
At the ceremony, awards were presented in 13 categories. Rudolph Brown and Las May of The Gleaner received the Aston Cooke Award for News Photography and the Best Cartoon Award, respectively.
The Observer captured four of the awards, namely The Junior Dowie Award for Sports Photography, The Errol Harvey Award for Human Interest in Photo, The Raymond Sharpe Award for Sports Reporting, and The Carl Wint Award for News Feature.
Journalist of the Year went to CVM TV's Garfield Burford, who was also the recipient of the award in 2005. His colleague, Omar Green, won the Ken Dawson Award for Videography. Janice Budd of Television Jamaica won the award for investigative journalism. Fae Ellington and Ralston Hyman of the Sunday Herald won the awards for opinion and business writing, respectively.
In addition, two special awards were announced, one to Ian Boyne for his television programme Profile, which is in its 20th year; and the other to Ben Brodie, publisher of community paper The News, which is marking 21 years. These awards will be presented at a later date.
