The Big Dogs: Who Owns Jamaica's Media?

Just like any other country, Jamaica has a media system controlled by large conglomerates.  Jamaica, being a nation of just over two and a half million, has three major conglomerates controlling the news.

The RJR Communications Group owns and operates seven networks, including three radio stations, three television stations and a multimedia news group.  The business began with 
"Seven brands with international appeal - bringing you the best in news, current affairs, human interest stories, sports, family entertainment and great music." -RJR Communications Group

Another major news conglomerate is The Gleaner Company, who owns a total of nine other media sources; including two print publications and seven other news sources available online.  The Jamaican Gleaner is the oldest and best known publication in Jamaica.

Between these two news conglomerates, Jamaica's source of news media is limited, but not really parallel in content.  Both companies have brief, concise stories surrounding human interest and local crime.  Some information is concerning neighboring Caribbean islands, but covers almost nothing internationally, with the exception of Jamaica's relations with the UK.  Jamaica media seems occupied with its own local and national issues and the amount of globalization, relatively speaking, is minimal.

I recently downloaded an application for my iPhone, titled, "Jamaica".  It contains news from "The Jamaican Gleaner", "The Jamaica Observer", "The Star" and a section called "Topix", which includes world news.  The application illustrates the Jamaican media conglomerates.

Globalization and Jamaica

Jamaica, like other countries has been affected by the media culturally.  Most of their influence comes from the UK and the US, the latter, most likely, is due to proximity and prominence in the world's media.  Also, like the rest of the world, within the top ten websites visited in Jamaica is Facebook, Twitter, Google and Wikipedia and most importantly, MSN.  The latter being an American companies illustrates the access that Jamaicans have to American media and culture, as well as how much of a dose the nation is getting, relative to how much of their media they are accessing.

Globalization has made Jamaica who they are today, socially and politically.  The fact that Jamaica is a democratic nation and that they have two parties, as well as the style of journalism they use is reflective of the US.  When a nation has its own major media sources including websites, broadcast, print and advertising, why would they turn to another nation's news source before their own?

The answer would be that what is being shown in the core nations culturally and economically, versus the periphery and semi-periphery nations, is the image of wealth and success.  In the US and UK, we create a misleading idea that happiness is tied to materialism.  Essentially, this is cultural imperialism.

There is no doubt, however, that we have too been influenced by Jamaican culture, especially musically.  Jamaica, considered a periphery nation, has contributed to many aspects of entertainment, lifestyle and religion worldwide.  Music is probably the most obvious contribution to American society.  If you were to turn on any mainstream pop radio station, you would be able to hear a heavy influence of Jamaican and surrounding Caribbean Islands. Religiously, the Rastafarian movement of the 1980s began with Bob Marley's music and spread quickly.  It is not uncommon to encounter Rastafarian-ism across the media spectrum.

Overall, globalization is incredibly apparent surrounding Jamaica, and it is only growing...

Current News: Manatt/Dudus, Buju and FIFA

Currently, Jamaica's hot topic is the issue of the extradition of Christopher "Dudus" Coke, which emerged mid last year. His US extradtition was a battle for Jamaica's prime minister, Bruce Golding, who fought the US on the basis of illegitimate evidence.  After Dudus' extradition, the people in Tivoli, Jamaica, who support his return and freedom, worked to fight off security forces who looked to arrest Dudus, resulting in violence, unrest and a high death toll.
Now, two years after the issue, Golding is still fighting legally regarding Dudus, with American law firm, Manatt, Phelps & Phillips in the "Manatt/Dudus Enquiry".

Christopher "Dudus" Coke

 The Jamaica Gleaner and the Jamaica Observer are both heavily covering the story surrounding a reggae recording artist's involvement in drug trafficking.  Buju, the Jamaican recording sensation whose album won best reggae album yesterday, "Has been accused of conspiring with two associates to buy a shipment of cocaine from an undercover officer," according to the Gleaner. His trial will take place in the next couple of weeks.  His fans prayed for his "deliverance" in vain.

After two years, the case finally comes to a close with the jury finding Buju Banton guilty on three counts involving possession, distribution and trafficking of cocaine. His attorney is attempting to appeal the verdict, most saying without luck.

Jamaica's Reggae Boyz' are on their way to the FIFA under-17 World Cup that will take place in Mexico.  The young team beat Honduras in the quarter-finals, 2-1.