Belize Awaits Big Night at Annual CBU Awards

Belizean media is making its mark on the regional stage. Greater Belize Media has earned more than two dozen nominations in this year’s CBU Media Awards, putting its work in journalism, digital production, and technical excellence among the best in the Caribbean. The winners are being announced during the Caribbean Broadcasting Union’s Fifty-Seventh Annual General Assembly in Georgetown, Guyana, where media houses from across the region are waiting to see who takes home top honors. Tonight, News Five’s Britney Gordon looks at the nominations, the anticipation, and what this recognition means for Belizean broadcasting.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

It is a big night for Caribbean media, and Belize has plenty to celebrate. Greater Belize Media is up for twenty-six awards at this year’s CBU Media Awards, placing the company among the region’s top contenders. The awards gala begins tonight as part of the CBU’s Annual General Assembly. During the opening ceremony, CBU President Anthony Green highlighted this year’s theme, “Caribbean Media and AI,” and explained why artificial intelligence is now part of the conversation about the future of journalism and broadcasting.

 

Anthony Green, President, Caribbean Broadcasting Union

“This year’s theme, Caribbean Media and AI could hardly be more timely. Artificial intelligence is already changing how we gather information, produce content and reach our audience. AI promises greater speed and efficiency but also raises difficulty questions about accuracy, authorship, jobs, public trust and the values that should guide its use. Those conversations should be answered for us from somewhere else. We must answer them from a Caribbean perspective.”

 

Caribbean media is being pushed to evolve, but not at the cost of trust. At the AGM, discussions focused on how media houses can use technology, strengthen their businesses, and still protect the integrity of their content. The CBU will recognize standout work in environmental reporting, child rights, investigative journalism, and Caribbean arts and culture. UNESCO’s Eric Falt also spoke about the need for ethical and inclusive digital transformation.

 

Eric Falt, NESCO Regional Representative

“UNESCO approaches Ai with neither panic neither with blind enthusiasm. AI can help journalist analyze data, translate content, improve accessibility, preserve archives, identify patterns and work more efficiently. For small newsrooms, these possibilities are every significant “

 

The race is tight. Jamaica’s RJRGLEANER earned twenty-nine nominations, GBM secured twenty-six, and Guardian Media received eighteen. GBM enters the awards with momentum after winning ten prizes and four special mentions last year. Belize has already claimed a major honor, with journalist Jules Vasquez receiving the Caribbean Media Defender Award.

 

Jules Vasquez, Belizean Journalist

“The role of the defender of media freedom, why does it matter? Why must we champion those who play that role? Because news is a public utility, just as important as water or electricity. A modern democratic society cannot survive without it.”

 

The Caribbean Broadcasting Awards highlights the region’s ongoing support for the crucial duty of the press. A free press is not a threat to democracy. It is part of what keeps democracy alive. That is the message from John Feely, Director of the Center for Media Integrity of the Americas, who says national leaders must respect the media’s role in holding them accountable.

 

John Feely, Director, Center for Media Integrity of the Americas

“A free press is not an enemy of any government. Responsible, independent press is one of democracy’s most important safeguards. It can be irritating. It can be persistent. It can sometimes get things wrong and when it does the press has a responsibility to correct that record. But that is not a defect of democracy. That is democracy doing its job.”

 

The CBU Awards will be aired on GBM at eight p.m. Britney Gordon for News Five.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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