It must be saying something about the journalism of the 1970s. And inasmuch as I am amongst this august body of outstanding scribes, I must congratulate Wyvolyn Gager, Owen James, and Franklin McKnight on their elevation to the Order of Distinction (Officer Class) in this year’s National Honours and Awards.

The Jamaica Information Service (JIS) tells us that: “The National Honours and Awards Act, promulgated on the 18th of July 1969, made it possible for the nation to recognise those who, by their service and contribution, have had a meaningful and significant impact on national life.” The motto of the Order of Distinction is “Distinction through Service”.

Media was one of the big winners in the 2014 honours with six personalities receiving the OD, the others being the Jamaica Observer’s Novia McDonald-Whyte, senior associate editor – lifestyle and social content, and Television Jamaica’s Neville ‘Bertis’ Bell.

For the purposes of this special edition of The Spike, I am singling out Gager, James and McKnight with whom I grew up in the profession and have been fortunate to have been an eyewitness to their stellar performance in journalism, beginning with those heady days of the 1970s in The Gleaner newsroom.

Owen James, OD

To the best of my knowledge, Owen preceded me into The Gleaner by a few months. I joined the staff as a trainee reporter on October 1, 1973. He worked with the Star and left as editor, after 11 years, in 1984. The current generation will know Owen for his high-profile presence in business media, but the group of starry-eyed youngsters who occupied The Gleaner newsroom in the ’70s remember the tall, towering man we called “Pegasus” (after the hotel) with the engaging smile and a certain joie de vivre.

Owen James was promoted to Star editor two years after joining the company, succeeding the iconic Jack Anderson, at a time when one of the key criteria for promotion was greying hair. He won the coveted Harry Brittain Fellowship and spent invaluable time in London, learning at the feet of the legendary Sunday Times editor Harold Evans.

In 1984, Owen joined the then Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (JBC), the radio and television complex which was eventually sold to RJR. It was under late general manager Ulric Simmonds. In short order Owen was promoted to assistant director of news, sports and current affairs. In a later interview, he revealed that during his tenure the station recruited the likes of Joylene Griffiths Irving, Mark Thomas, Yvette Rowe, Anthony Miller, Michael Gonzales and Sandrea Falconer.

When the JBC was divested in 1997, Owen took a sabbatical but returned the following year to media when he approached Marcia Forbes at Super Supreme Television (eventually renamed Television Jamaica) with his idea for a business programme he called The Business Day. That was followed sometime after by The Business Review. In 2000, Owen started his company called All Media Services Limited. On a Personal Note came in 2003. In April 2011, Owen left TVJ, taking his business programmes to CVM-TV where he is today.

Wyvolyn Gager, OD

Wyvolyn took The Gleaner by storm in 1975, young and fresh, with a country charm that won over the place. By then I was in my second year. She was a natural with the pen and would become known for her ability to develop news sources, the real oxygen of reporting. She was appointed news editor in 1983 when few women were considered for that post.

One of her proud achievements was receiving the Theodore Sealy Award for Best News Story in 1990. That was followed by her appointment to associate editor.

Wyvolyn’s place in Jamaican journalism history was cemented in 1994 when she was appointed the first woman editor-in-chief at the 160-year-old Gleaner, a position she served in until 2000. She had shattered the glass ceiling in an institution that had been built during the heyday of slavery in 1834, four years before its actual abolition, and which represented the colonial establishment, then that of the emerging Jamaica.

She would be remembered at the newspaper for her ability to spot and mentor young talent in the profession. Often referred to as “Madam Editor”, she became a much sought-after speaker by civic, community and professional groups throughout Jamaica.

After leaving The Gleaner, she took on freelance assignments and then established a media consultancy focusing on media training for young journalists and helping executives to understand media. For a short stint she was chief executive officer of the Carl Stone Polls.

She continues to serve the profession as an unpaid advisor to the executive committee of the Press Association of Jamaica and judge of its National Journalism Awards.

Franklin McKnight, OD

Franklin was one of those few who transitioned successfully from the classroom to the newsroom. He started with The Gleaner in 1977 as a news correspondent while he taught at Morant Bay High in St Thomas. He also became a columnist, writing from the east. We could hear his ready laughter before he came into view, on his fairly frequent visits to the office. In 1982, Franklin joined the full-time staff as a deputy news editor charged with expanding rural coverage and developing the network of correspondents.

While there, he moonlighted as the correspondent for United Press International (UPI). He was promoted in 1989 to associate editor for both the Daily and Sunday Gleaner and given the tough task of sectionalising the Sunday paper and doing investigative stories.

In 1992, Franklin left to become the founding/managing editor of the Jamaica Herald newspaper, which was born out of the ashes of the Jamaica Record. When the Herald moved to a weekly publication, he remained as managing editor/business development, then as consulting editor/director. From there he became founder/publisher of the weekly North Coast Times, the longest serving community newspaper covering St Ann, St Mary and Portland.

Franklin also worked for CVM-TV as host of its interview programme Direct in 1997, moving to RJR as host of Tell Me About It and co-host of Beyond The Headlines from 1997 to 2002. Since 2002, he has been news director at IRIE FM where he is also the commentator on Frankly Speaking. During that time he has lectured in journalism and related issues at Carimac, UWI.

Franklin served as president of the Press Association of Jamaica from 1988 to 1991. Among his accolades are: Media Personality of the Year 2009/2010; Journalist of the Year 1997; PAHO Media Award for Excellence in Health Journalism 1994 and Best Investigative Story 1989 from the Caribbean Publishers and Broadcasters Association.

PS: Heartiest congratulations to Garfield Myers, editor-at-large at the Observer South/Central Bureau, who is this year celebrating 40 years in journalism.