Newsboyphil Reporting from Kingston, Jamaica

Trends in Media 

Media jobs are hard to come by in this age of creative freedom. The Internet and independent coverage as well as the ability for individuals to order their own personalised media is important. A lot of youths are involved in the creation of reality type programming and so totally produced entertainment is at a loss. Its summer and where media intern jobs were once available you wonder where have they all gone. From New york , Miami, London, Kingston  good media talent  I am told is  hard to come by. Media scouts say new media has exploded and the recruiting agencies are looking for persons who are more involved with media design and online media production. Traditional forms such as radio and television have seen less growth and is on the decline in most areas. Infact the record industry which is the thrust behind radio's ability to reinvent itself is struggling to get its sales going. Event marketing and promotions is a better deal. As you talk bout that Reggae Sumfest comes up  in weeks, Barbados Rihanna, 50 cents, Beenie Man, Sizzla  all set for the Vibes city Montego Bay Jamaica. You check that against the return of Reggae Sunsplash and Jamaica has continued in 2006 to market events in a very highly professional and infectious manner.

So what of local media, the resale of local radio and television stations along with the expansion of cable television and launch of the new public broadcast system at the former JBC half way tree, is something that media professionals are speaking of, but, there is little development in the creative offering and the future of media in Jamaican look somewhat dull. Could local production cost be a factor? Local soap Royal Palm Estate and Rising Star Talent competition continue to be the toast of the best being offered on TV. You get the impression that fashion and music have its place even on segments of the morning and week end programmes ,but, how well are they being celebrated. The Caribbean Institute of Media and Communications is upbeat about its summer programme. Classes in Radio production, Video production, among other media design courses. Also Creative Production Training Centre continues its courses in Sound recording, photography, and Voice and Speech.

The World cup is on and if is one thing that can save media coverage is good sports coverage. From football, NBA basketball , Wrestling and Boxing. Sporting fans go to great lengths to listen up to analytical commentary and pre game report/forecast.  It is true that sports such as Track and field  are seeing a decline in following , but, even cricket coverage has shown a comeback. The Cricket World Cup coverage in 2007 is expected to be top class and with Powell and Gatlin challenging each other for the fastest man in the world title track and field media coverage isn't totally dead. Speaking of dieing, there is talk that even in film its hard to come across great movies these days.  Movie theatres and cinema are experiencing low audience turn out. If for anything else the audience is shuffling the deck and making the media industry know who is its boss.