Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica (PBCJ) was established in 1997 as the flagship public broadcaster of Jamaica, following the collapse, mostly because of financial problems, of the previous public media outlet, Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC).
Media assets
Television: PBCJ
State Media Matrix Typology: Independent State-Funded (ISF)
Ownership and governance
PBCJ was established as a public service corporation through a 1997 parliament act. The corporation began its operations several years later. PBCJ is governed by a board of 17 members appointed by the General Governor, the head of state and representative of the British Queen in Jamaica. However, the majority of these members are appointed from a list of people supported by independent organizations, including civil society groups, churches and students, according to the PBCJ Law and information from local experts and journalists.
Source of funding and budget
PBCJ raised the funding needed for its startup operation by selling assets of the previous public media company. Although the government initially planned to have PBCJ financed through a combination of non-governmental sources, the corporation still draws most of its budget from the government, according to local experts. The government doesn’t release detailed data about the budget of PBCJ.
Editorial independence
There is no evidence of editorial control by the government at the PBCJ. The station, thanks to the diverse composition of its board, is relatively free to focus on its public service mission, including a very strong educational component.
No domestic statute and no independent assessment or oversight mechanism to validate the editorial independence of PBCJ’s channels have been identified.
August 2023