FOR Ricardo Brooks — the 2011 Jamaican Blogger of the Year and operator of the blog ‘Veritas’ — copping the top award was not no easy feat.

In a recent interview, Brooks told Career & Education that in addition to “updating his blog quite regularly”, he sometimes had to post three well-researched and controversial topics each month. This, in order to secure the loyalty of his audience and ultimately convincing the judges of the Jamaica Blog Awards of his suitability for the top award.

“I’m elated, really. When I looked at all the other options the judges had to choose from, it made me particularly proud that my blog was selected,” said the 23-year-old youth who said he is guided by a single philosophy: “to achieve all that is possible, we must attempt the impossible”.

Brooks was awarded a week ago at a ceremony held at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston.

In addition to being named top blogger, his blog Veritas won the awards for Best Jamaica-focused Blog and Best News/Current Affairs Blog. Brooks was also given the award for Best Blog Post for the piece titled ‘Dr The Hon Usain St Leo Bolt OD OJ’.

Blogging is something that Brooks — currently a student of the University of the West Indies (UWI), Mona, and radio co-host for the weekly programme Issues on Fire aired on NewsTalk 93 FM each Sunday morning — said he initially found it scary, albeit interesting.

“My motivation (to begin blogging) came from a friend of mine, Michael. He read a few notes I had written on Facebook and encouraged me to start blogging. I was reluctant at first, because a big concern of mine was the reception of my material,” Brooks, who has been blogging for a little over 17 months, told Career & Education.

He added that writing is something he has had an abundance of love for since high school and would love to make a career of it.

“Well, I really like writing and I hope to continue. Ideally, I’d like to write for one of the major newspapers in Jamaica,” said Brooks, who is reading for a degree in literatures in English with a minor in political science.

No stranger to winning awards, the former Camperdown High student who graduated as valedictorian in 2007, received several awards for English language and literature while in school, where he was a senior prefect and captain of the debate team.

He has also served as president of the UWI Debating Society.

“I was named Best Debator in the National Schools’ Debate in 2007. I was second best debator in the Caribbean and Latin America in 2009 and again in 2012 at the World University Debating Championships. I was fourth in the World Public Speaking Championships in 2010,” recalled Brooks, who recently returned from the World University Debating Championships held in Manila, Philippines.

Quizzed as to his motivation for realising success, he said: “I am motivated by Hazel Mothersill, my grandma. My family is generally supportive of all my pursuits.”

As to the future of his blog, he said “I hope to continue to inspire independent and free thought with my material. I hope Veritas continues to be truth.”

Meanwhile, 14 other bloggers were recognised at the annual awards ceremony. The award categories were:

* Best Twitter Micro Blogger of the Year; and Best Food Blog;

* Best Lifestyle Blog and Best Technology Blog;

* Best Music Blog and Best Entertainment Blog;

* Best Company Blog and Best Beauty and Fashion Blog;

* Best Personal Blog and Best New Blog; as well as

* Best Overseas Jamaica Blog and Best Photography Blog.

An award for Top Blog Post from the inaugural Jamaica Blog Awards in 2010 was also up for grabs, alongside the new award categories for 2011 — Best Advocacy Blog, Best Jamaica-focused Blog, Best Jamaica Video Blog, Best News/Current Affairs Blog, and Best Writing on a Blog.