In the region, the Caribbean Sports Journalists’ Association (CASJA) joins AIPS and the sports media fraternity in recognising the achievements and challenges.
CASJA, founded on May 25, 2014, was born out of the need for the regional sports media to be more united in facing challenges.
Among CASJA’s immediate objectives are to provide a united platform for the sports media in the Caribbean as well as to effect a closer working relationship among the media and various stakeholders including sporting federations.
Training remains an important element of CASJA’s mission and the interim board has been working to accomplish these objectives.
CASJA is growing in significance and importance across the Caribbean with members of the fraternity, sporting personalities and sporting federations including IAAF, NACAC, CONCACAF and CANOC.
We have had our share of challenges recently with attempts by some sports organisers in the region to impose accreditation fees on the working media.
It is a battle we don’t intend to lose and with the solidarity and support of AIPS, CASJA remains committed to protect our interests and rights and to also promote sports in the Caribbean.
Let me take this opportunity to congratulate a former colleague and well known sports journalist Colin «Tin Tin» James of Antigua and Barbuda who has been appointed to the Upper House of his country’s Parliament.
James has served the Caribbean media for several years and has now decided to move in a different direction but with continued service to his country. Among his responsibilities as a Junior Minister are Trade, Commerce, Industry, Sports, Culture and National Festivals.
CASJA wishes Senator James well in his new venture while hoping he will still find the time to mentor some of the young sports journalists in the region.
CASJA also endorses a message from the AIPS President Gianni Merlo to mark the day.
President Merlo urges Sports Journalists around the world among other things to defend their right of expression because their freedom of thought and criticism can help sport to grow and with it and the young people of the world to develop.
Merlo describes the current state of international journalism as difficult. «We are facing a deep crisis and our profession is continually changing. Freedom of the press is in danger because the so called «political power» wants to turn us into docile press officers incapable of critical and profound analysis. For this reason, it is important for all nations to be united in the fight for our freedom of conscience,» he said.
He cited recent cases in the United Kingdom where colleagues who are honest opinionists were dismissed with the excuse that they cost too much.
«This is a terrible lie. The «powers that be» are afraid of the free thinker — this is the truth. The political power wants to put its hands on the world of sport. It wants to muzzle us but we do not accept this and we will fight for our freedom.»
The AIPS President said that sports journalism has a fundamental role in shaping society through messages of peace.
«We sports journalists are, in one way, the guardians of the integrity and honesty of sport and we mustn’t forget it because we speak, above all, to the young generations. Our work has a very relevant social function and we often undervalue it. Instead, we should be aware and proud of our mission and continue to strive for excellence and high achievement.»
On behalf of CASJA, I extend to you all best wishes for July 2 and wish you well in your professional endeavours.
