Established in 1997, the Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica (PBCJ) serves as Jamaica’s primary public broadcaster. It was formed following the dissolution of the Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC), which faced financial difficulties. PBCJ commenced full broadcasting services on October 16, 2006, after initial test transmissions earlier that year.
Media assets
Television: PBCJ
State Media Matrix Typology
Independent State-Funded (ISF)
Ownership and governance
PBCJ operates as a public service corporation under the Public Broadcasting Corporation of Jamaica Act of 1997. It is overseen by a 19-member Board of Directors appointed by the Governor-General. The board’s composition ensures representation from various sectors, including law, media, education, religion, and civil society, promoting operational independence from direct government control. That ensures the broadcaster’s operational independence from the government.
PBCJ functions under the aegis of the Jamaica Information Service (JIS), a semi-autonomous government agency responsible for disseminating information on government policies and programs. The Jamaica Information Service was established in 1956 as the Government Public Relations Office (GPRO). Initially, it focused on issuing press releases and maintaining good relations between the press and the government. In 1957, the GPRO’s scope expanded to include the Jamaica Film Unit and the Government Broadcasting Service, leading to a name change to Public Relations and Information Services.
In January 1963, the GPRO was renamed the Government Information Office, which later became the Jamaica Information Service (JIS). During this period, a television unit was formed, and the JIS focused on writing and distributing press releases and photographs, producing publications, mounting public education campaigns, and creating content for radio, film, and television.
On April 1, 1974, under the administration of Prime Minister Michael Manley, the agency was granted a semi-autonomous structure with a nine-member advisory board chaired by journalist John Hearne. The organization was renamed the Agency for Public Information (API).
In 1980, during the administration of Prime Minister Edward Seaga, the agency’s name was reverted to Jamaica Information Service. On October 8, 1984, the Seaga government established the Jamaica Press (JAMPRESS) News Agency, which had been suspended since 1980, as its official news outlet. JAMPRESS took over the news-gathering function of the JIS, including its print news and photography functions. On April 1, 2001, as part of the World Bank-funded Public Sector Modernisation Programme, the JIS and JAMPRESS were merged to form a semi-autonomous executive agency headed by a Chief Executive Officer (CEO). In this capacity, the JIS provides communication services to all ministries, agencies, and departments of the government and earns revenue from services offered to both government and non-government entities.
Source of funding and budget
Initially, PBCJ secured funding through the sale of assets from the former JBC. While there were plans to diversify funding sources, as of the 2023-2024 fiscal year, PBCJ remains primarily funded by the Jamaican government. In that budget, JMD 582 million (approximately US$ 3.72 million) was allocated for PBCJ’s personnel and management expenses. Additionally, the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) received JMD 948 million (approximately US$ 6 million) for broadcasting and publishing services.
Editorial independence
PBCJ maintains a commitment to editorial independence, focusing on its public service mission, which includes educational programming and coverage of national and regional events. The diverse composition of its board supports this independence. However, there is no formal statute or independent oversight mechanism currently in place to assess or guarantee the editorial independence of PBCJ’s content.
June 2025