Skip to main content

Publications

Publications
Publications
Document Name Author Actions
Trainer/Workshops For Jamaican Media Professionals & Review Of Children’s Code For Programming. - Working

The national regulator for licensed radio, television and cable services, introduced a primary set of content standard regulation approximately 18 months ago with the introduction of the Children’s Code for Programming. This Code requires licensees to identify problematic material and either schedule or filter its transmission as well as provide viewers and listeners with adequate advisories about problematic content

Julie Marlow View Download
Jamaica Electronic Media Regulatory and Policy Framework Consultation

The media industry in Jamaica needs a modern electronic media regulator to support its development. The dated Broadcasting Act and the need for a complete overhaul of Jamaica's broadcasting and media legislation are crucial for the industry's success. This document recommends multiple policy approaches to align Jamaica's legislation with global best practices and prepare the industry for new technologies.

Nordicity Group View Download
Feedback on the Jamaica Electronic Media Regulatory and Policy Framework Consultation Final Report

A report on the Jamaica Electronic Media Regulatory and Policy Framework. The report, submitted to the Minister, was then circulated to stakeholders for further consultations, including public and private sectors, and licensees.

Nordicity Group. BCJ View Download
Feasibility of Digital Switchover in Jamaica: The Consumer Perspective

The Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica funded a project to explore the feasibility of Digital Switchover in Jamaica, aiming to upgrade the television market by 2015. The study explored factors influencing consumers' decision to adopt DTV, including the value of digital television (DTV), content and service attraction , equipment complexity , and feasibility.

Oliver Hilton, Terry-Ann Virtue View Download
An Economic and Financial Analysis of Jamaica Electronic Communications Industry (Working)

The Jamaican communications industry is experiencing significant structural changes due to rapid technological developments and innovations in ICTs. This study analyses the continued viability of radio and television broadcasting and subscriber television sectors in Jamaica, focusing on the STV sector.

Cordel Green, Richardo Williams View Download
Study of the output of Jamaica's Electronic Media Sector Content

This study, conducted by the Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication (CARIMAC) on the request of the BCJ, seeks to assess audience needs in relation to local electronic media. Among many findings, the Jamaican electronic media sector was identified as a wide range of programming on free-to-air television channels, local cable channels, and radio

CARIMAC View Download
The Introduction of Digital Terrestrial Television in Jamaica 2012: A Feasibility Study

Digital Television (DSO) is a global project aimed at replacing analogue broadcasting with digital transmission. DSO offers improved quality, a more captivating TV experience and new features like electronic programme guides and video-on-demand. However, challenges such as regulatory certainty, spectrum efficiency, and technological changes for analogue equipment must be addressed.

College of Business Management View Download
Jamaica Roadmap Report for the Transition from Analogue to Digital Television Broadcasting

The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has developed a roadmap for the transition from analogue to digital broadcasting, with support from the Development Bank of Latin America. The roadmap, developed by ITU-D experts and DSO members, aims to facilitate the transition from analogue to digital terrestrial television broadcasting in Jamaica. The report was drafted in April 2015, with support from ITU-D and ITU-R

Peter Walop, International Telecommunication Union View Download
Media Content Impact Study

This survey was created to monitor changes in students' behaviour related to electronic media exposure and consumption. It involved secondary school students from various schools over a two-year period. Major findings showed that songs containing sex, lust, or sexual appeal themes were most popular with students. Girls were more likely to consume music with sex, lust, or sexual appeal or heartbreak, death, or sadness themes, and less likely to consume TV shows with violence.

UWI View Download
Research on the Regulatory Treatment of Small Cable Operators

Research on the Regulatory Treatment of Small Cable Operators UTECH Research Paper June 2017 The study aimed to provide recommendations to the Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica on the regulatory treatment of Subscriber Television (STV) operators in Jamaica, focusing on small-sized STV operators. The research also explored the feasibility of adopting a tiered regulatory system, investigating the issue of small STV operators in other jurisdictions, and ensuring a healthy and competitive cable television industry. Final

UTECH View Download
Content Regulation in the Fourth Industrial Revolution (Working)

The convergence of communication platforms has led to an exponential increase in the volume and variety of internet content available to consumers. However, there are still large gaps in the world's connectivity, particularly in Africa, due to cultural acceptance issues and a lack of local content. Technology can help solve some of these problems by automatically translating pages and increasing the number of languages available.A small group of technology companies now control public spaces on the internet, leading to potential abuse. Extremists, political manipulators, criminals, and terrorists are increasingly active in these spaces.

Cordel Green, Anthony Clayton View Download
UNESCO Caribbean AI Policy Roadmap

AI technologies are being deployed in the Caribbean region to combat discrimination and enhance human creativity. However, concerns about privacy and infringement of citizen data privacy remain. AI systems raise ethical issues in various sectors, including employment, healthcare, education, media, and democracy. The potential for AI algorithms to reproduce biases, such as gender, ethnicity, and age, exacerbates discrimination. To address these challenges, stakeholders must collaborate to develop humanistic guidelines, regulations, and laws, including boundaries for AI decision-making, rights, and accountability protocols.

Erica Simmons, Cordel Green, Centre for Digital Innovation Caribbean Maritime University and Andrea M. Davis, IP and Creative Industries Consultant View Download
Revising Jamaica’s Programming Code

The UN has launched a consultation to review the Children's Code for Programming, a key regulatory instrument in the broadcast sector. The review aims to align the regulatory environment with the digital transformation of media. The consultation focuses on the multifaceted interests of technology companies, legacy media, educators, parents, children, and public health experts in regulating digital media. The report, based on survey data, interviews, and focus groups, provides recommendations for a revised regulatory instrument, which will be presented alongside the new Content Code.

Anthea Henderson, PhD. CARIMAC, UWI View Download
Content Code

The Content Code is designed to align with the evolving digital media ecosystem and international best practices. It provides platform-agnostic stipulations for content providers and content services across various platforms, including free-to-air programming, on-demand content, and gaming platforms.

Dr Althea Henderson View Download
Digital Television Switchover In Jamaica. ATSC 3.0 Transmission Operating Guidelines

The model of digital literacy is crucial for aspiring entrants to the workforce, as they lack the necessary skills to become confident creators and consumers of content. The Broadcasting Commission of Jamaica suggests a unified Digital, Media and Information Literacy (DMIL) Framework to guide policy design and support Jamaica's transition to a digital society. This includes competency models, assessment mechanisms, implementation pathways, and policy recommendations.

BCJ UNESCO & MSBM View Download
Back to Top