The Caribbean School of Media and Communication (CARIMAC), in partnership with Southern Oregon University’s Democracy Project, is set to host a thought-shifting media and democracy public forum on Wednesday, June 25 at the UWI Mona campus.

The forum, to be held under the theme, “Democracy in the Digital Age: Challenges and Opportunities for Jamaica’s Media Landscape”, is a central component of SOU’s internationally acclaimed Democracy Project – an initiative that fosters global dialogue on democracy through student travel and intercultural exchange.

This year, the programme spotlights Jamaica, and will see students engaged in activities aimed at deepening their understanding of the country’s history, culture and social realities. The media and democracy forum will delve into the evolving role of media in democracy, youth engagement, and the digital transformation of political discourse. It will feature a distinguished panel of political scientists from the UWI and SOU, and journalists and media professionals from Jamaica. These include Dr. Michelle Munroe, head of the Political Science Unit at UWI, Mona and Professor Emeritus, Sociology & Environmental Studies at SOU, Dr Mark Shibley, along with Dashan Hendricks, president of the Press Association of Jamaica, and senior journalist at Nationwide News Network, George Davis. Noted media professional and attorney-at-law, Helene Coley-Nicholson will serve as moderator.

Topics to be discussed include the profound impact of social media on political discourse, the complexities of media bias, and the significant shifts in Jamaica’s media landscape since independence.

 

Read more: Jamaica Gleaner