CARIMAC's top radio and print graduates, Doreen McDuffus (left) and Carlene de Bourg beam as they view their trophies after the CARIMAC/ Jamaica National media awards ceremony yesterday at CARIMAC, UWI. ­ Rudolph Brown

At 6th annual JNBS media awards

RECENT GRADUATES of the Caribbean Institute of Media & Communication (CARIMAC) collected trophies and prizes yesterday after they distinguished themselves in the sixth annual Jamaica National/CARIMAC media competition.

They emerged winners based on the quality, appeal, sound quality, creativity, clarity and style of their work, in radio and print.

First place for radio, with her 60 second public service announcement on "Seat-belt" went to Doreen McDuffus, second place to Dionne Hutchinson and a third place tie to Michelle Boland and Delmares White.

For Print, first place went to Carlene de Bourg for her story "Mona natives" and second place to The Star's Ingrid Brown for "UWI's first class".

Development communication

Guest speaker Senator Aloun Ndombet-Assamba, general manager of City of Kingston Co-operative Credit Union, spoke on the theme "Development communication ­ a tool for nation building." She said the media have a clear role to help society cope with the new and emerging problems they face.

While not advocating muzzling the press nor imposing sanctions, the Senator appealed to the media to exercise a sense of responsibility.

She appealed for greater pride in our institutions and symbols, more positive portrayal of women and a reversal in the marginalisation of men.

The media awards are a collaborative effort of the Jamaica National Building Society and CARIMAC, along with newcomer BWIA, who provided airline tickets for the winners.

The top students will have their public service announcement and stories aired on radio stations throughout the region and published in national newspapers.