Alma Mock Yen mourned as role model for generations of journalists

Pioneering Jamaican broadcaster, educator, dancer and actress Alma Mock Yen is being hailed for profoundly shaping the Jamaican and Caribbean media landscape and the careers of generations of broadcast journalists.

Mock Yen passed away at home on New Year’s Eve at 97.

Mock Yen was a pioneer in the movement that heralded the transition of Jamaican radio from an imitation of British broadcasting networks to a genuine representation of local fare that truly captured the essence of the country and its people.

Her career in journalism began in the early 1950s, when she became a part-time host on Radio Jamaica, now RJR94FM, part of the RJRGLEANER Communications Group.

Alma Hylton, as she was at the time, later became a full-time employee at RJR as one of the first women of colour and received training in radio at the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).

Having no formal certification in her chosen profession, Mock Yen however seized the opportunity to be among the first 32 students admitted into the then Caribbean Institute of Mass Communication, now Caribbean School of Media and Communication (CARIMAC) at The University of the West Indies (UWI), when it opened in 1981.

She subsequently became one of its first lecturers, teaching radio production and training a legion of broadcast journalists from across the region, and her former students say her legacy will live on.

Veteran Gleaner journalist Janet Silvera said Mock Yen was a teacher and a mentor, and described her as a distinguished woman and consummate professional.

“I celebrate Alma Mock Yen for helping to shape generations of Jamaican journalists and broadcasters. For me, she really held us to the highest standards, especially in diction, discipline, respect for the craft.”

Silvera recalled with a chuckle that the woman considered a doyenne of contemporary Jamaican broadcasting held her students to high standards, even after they were out of her classroom.

REFLECTION

“She was firm, exacting, I would say unwavering, but always in service of excellence. That was very important to her. I learnt not just how to speak, but how to communicate with clarity, with confidence and purpose. She was also my Facebook friend for years, so I would worry about what I was writing, because I knew if I wrote something that wasn’t right, Alma would say it.”

Another journalist, Dara Smith, fondly recalled Mock Yen, who she called ‘Aunty Alma’, for the impression the veteran educator made during her fledgling years.

“I remember my days at the Radio Education Unit at Mona, where Aunty Alma, along with Leonie Forbes, taught me voice and speech. I was just entering the world of radio, and what a start to the journey. She made every class entertaining and, of course, she was always with her ruler, making rhythms on the desk as she went through the routine. She left such an impression on me that I maintained the relationship even after completing the training. Aunty Alma was a true role model who would always make herself available. May her soul rest well.”

Associate Professor in Media Communication at Roger Williams University, Dr Hume Johnson, who had a long career as a media practitioner in Jamaica, hailed Mock Yen as one of the media educators who shaped her journey as a journalist and communication practitioner.

“Her work at the Radio Education Unit was instrumental in giving journalists like myself early practical training in interviewing, speaking on air, and microphone techniques, preparing us to be career-ready long before graduation. Alma’s pedagogy was practical, direct, and unforgettable. I still recall a recording session where, in her effort to get me to relax during an interview, she forcefully tapped my forehead mid-take, a moment that taught me more about the importance of physical presence, posture and ease on camera than any textbook ever could.”

Hundreds of students from across the region who studied broadcasting at CARIMAC would have come under the distinguished tutelage of Mrs. Mock Yen and therefore would have benefited from her trademark commitment to excellence and demand for adherence to professional standards. She was in fact able to command a position of respect and honour among her students and across the university community because of her professionalism, intellect, and creative imagination that spanned dance, theatre, and media.

COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE

Last night CARIMAC Director Patrick Prendergast said hundreds of students from across the region, who studied broadcasting at CARIMAC, would have come under Mock Yen’s tutelage and would have therefore benefited from her trademark commitment to excellence and demand for adherence to professional standards.

“She was in fact able to command a position of respect and honour among her students and across the university community because of her professionalism, intellect, and creative imagination that spanned dance, theatre, and media,” Prendergast said.

In its tribute, the Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ), which Mock Yen served as a secretary for 17 years, noted that she set high standards for broadcast journalism and was a role model for generations of journalists.

“Her contribution to public discourse was marked by clarity, fairness, and a deep respect for the Jamaican audience. Whether reporting on national affairs or facilitating critical conversations, she brought credibility and gravitas to the airwaves, earning the trust and admiration of listeners across the island.”

The PAJ said it “recognises Mock Yen not only as an accomplished broadcaster, but as a trailblazer, whose legacy will continue to influence Jamaican media for years to come, and her passing represents a significant loss to the profession and to the nation”.

Mock Yen cemented her place in broadcasting history by joining UWI’s Radio Education Unit in 1982 and was made head of the unit in 1987, becoming both its face and its voice, and, during her 19 years there, was responsible for producing scores of informational programmes on education, health, science, and the environment.

She also served as consultant to UNESCO for the radio broadcasting arts in the Commonwealth Caribbean.

When she became a CARIMAC lecturer, Mock Yen was completing the circle that had started when she was just a teenager.

At the tender age of 14, she had begun teaching at Merl Grove High School in St Andrew, where she had been employed by the principal at the time, Miriam Speid, after being successful in the Senior Cambridge Exams.

Mock Yen taught for 10 years at Merl Grove, where, initially, many of her students were senior to her in age.

She eventually headed the school’s preparatory department before moving on to Excelsior College in Kingston, completing teacher training at the Mico College (now University).

Aside from her involvement in journalism, Mock Yen was also a lover of the arts who enjoyed drama and dance, as well as creative writing, and who was intimately involved in all three genres.

For her contribution to broadcasting, Mock Yen received membership in the Order of Distinction in the rank of Commander and, in 2011, was among several veterans honoured by the PAJ.

She is survived by her son, Sean, other relatives and friends.

karen.madden@gleanerjm.com