Tuesday 14 March 2023

Bahamas Press Club Deeply Saddened By Death of Journalist Eldred (Ed) Edison Bethel

                                                

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

 

March 13, 2023

 

Bahamas Press Club Deeply Saddened By 

Death of Journalist Eldred (Ed) Edison Bethel

 

NASSAU, The Bahamas - The Bahamas Press Club is deeply saddened over the death of the veteran noted journalist Eldred (Ed) Edison Bethel who died Monday, March 13, 2023. He was 82.

“His death certainly leaves a void in journalism – broadcast and print  - in The Commonwealth of The Bahamas,” said President Anthony Capron.

“He was a consummate professional, a gentleman and was instrumental in preserving the integrity and standard of the profession, characters which his peers and upcoming journalists strived to emulate,” Capron said.

For him, being honoured with the Etienne Dupuch Lifetime Achievement Award capped off his long and outstanding career, for which he sincerely thanked the Press Club and his peers during the awards ceremony in 2020.

“Ed will b sorely missed by all in the profession locally and regionally,” said Capron. “Our condolences to his family.”

Ed Bethel received The Etienne Dupuch Lifetime Achievement Award at its Fifth Annual Media Awards ceremony on Saturday February 29, 2020 at the British Colonial Hilton.


Journalist and Diplomat Eldred Edison “Ed” Bethel received The Etienne Dupuch Lifetime Achievement Award – the highest honour presented at the Fifth Annual Bahamas Press Club Media Awards held on Saturday, February 29, 2020, at the British Colonial Hilton. He was also a Past President of The Bahamas Press Club.

Ed Bethel began his journalistic career in 1959 at the Nassau Tribune under the tutelage of Sir Etienne Dupuch and Sir Arthur Foulkes. He went on to join ZNS in 1963, and spend many years there, working at JCN and other news agencies; at Bahamas Information Services as its Executive Director and served as Consul General to New York and as High Commissioner to the Court of St. James’s, London, and Ambassador to the European Union.

Moving on to broadcast journalism, Bethel joined ZNS as a sports reporter in 1963. He has had a busy media career in which he was active until his retirement in 2012.

Bethel covered many of the major events in The Bahamas namely the 1962 Nassau Conference which included the United States President John F. Kennedy, British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan, and Canadian Prime Minister John Diefenbaker; the 1962 General Election in which women voted for the first time; the 1965 disastrous fire and sinking of the SS Yarmouth Castle; the 1965 “Black Tuesday” demonstration by the Progressive Liberal Party when then Opposition leader Lynden Pindling threw the mace out of the window of the House of Assembly, and the 1967 General Election when the Progressive Liberal Party became the new Government of The Bahamas defeating the United Bahamian Party. 

As coordinator of ZNS coverage of the 1973 Bahamas Independence, Bethel along with the late Sir Charles Carter and Carl Bethel were the broadcasters at Clifford Park on the historic night of July 9, 1973, who told the world that a new nation named The Commonwealth of the Bahamas was born.

In 1975 Bethel provided blow-by-blow coverage of the Elisha Obed vs Miguel de Oliveira championship bout from Paris, France.


Ed Bethel received The Etienne Dupuch Lifetime Achievement Award at its Fifth Annual Media Awards ceremony on Saturday February 29, 2020 at the British Colonial Hilton. Pictured are Bethel and Anthony Capron, President, Bahamas Press Club.


Bethel along with Charles Carter and the late Calsey Johnson inaugurated local television, ZNS, Channel 13 in July 1977.

He was the coordinator of ZNS coverage of the 1985 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) hosted by The Bahamas Government in Nassau.

Bethel also served as Deputy General Manager of the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas and Manager of ZNS Northern Service.

He served as Sports Editor at The Counsellors, Executive Director of Bahamas Information Services (BIS), News Editor at Love 97 FM and The Bahama Journal, and News Anchor of the Evening News at Star 106.5 FM

As a diplomat, Bethel served as Consul General to New York, The Bahamas High Commissioner to the Court of St. James’s in London, and Ambassador to the European Union.

Bethel is also a founding member and president of then, The Bahamas Press Club, during the late 1990s.

Bethel is married to the former broadcaster Dawne Adderley. He has four adult children and 10 grandchildren. 

 

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For further information contact: Secretary Lindsay Thompson at (242) 819-3374.

Email: thebahamaspressclub@gmail.com.
Website: www.bahamaspressclub.org


Saturday 15 May 2021

Bahamas Press Club Deeply Saddened By Death of Sir Charles Carter



Bahamas Press Club Deeply Saddened By Death of Sir Charles Carter

NASSAU, The Bahamas - The Bahamas Press Club today is deeply saddened by the passing of a noted Bahamian son, Sir Edward Charles Carter, KCMG. He was 78.

Sir Charles’ career ran the gamut from a radio announcer and television personality to the House of Parliament, and the Cabinet to newspaper publisher, and radio station owner.

Sir Charles, as he was affectionately called, was a pioneer in the early 1960s with the Young Bahamians radio programme on ZNS. He rose through the ranks of the Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas and was instrumental in setting up the television station in the mid-1970s, for which he was general manager.

Elected to the House of Assembly in 1982 and again in 1987, he served as Minister of Health, and as Minister of Foreign Affairs. With the introduction of private radio in 1993, Sir Charles was in 1999 granted a license to open a radio station, Island FM.

For a brief period – 2004-2007 – he was the publisher and general manager of The Nassau Guardian.

For his stellar career in the field of Journalism and Mass Communications, Sir Charles was the recipient of The Etienne Dupuch Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest honour, during the Bahamas Press Club Media Awards in 2018.

Although he was unable to attend the ceremony due to his then failing health, his grandson Cayman Cater received the award on his behalf. Also present was his son, Mark Carter.

Sir Charles message to the Bahamian media was: “Find in your work the trigger, the love that makes you want to tell the stories of this country in such a way that you cause young people to have a better idea about this country.”

Sir Charles is survived by his wife Muriel Lady Carter, sons Eddie and Mark Carter and a host of other relatives and friends.

Former broadcaster and newspaper general manager, radio station owner and politician Sir Charles Carter received The Etienne Dupuch Lifetime Achievement Award, The Bahamas Press Club highest honour during the 2018 Media Awards held Saturday, November 10, 2018 at the British Colonial Hilton.  Pictured are Sir Charles (left), and Anthony Capron (right), President, Bahamas Press Club 2014.

(FILE PHOTO/BPC 2014)



Monday 3 May 2021

Press Club Applauds Appointment of Freedom of Information Commissioner & Observes World Press Freedom Day


NASSAU, The Bahamas - The Bahamas Press Club 2014 says “hats off” to the Government of The Bahamas on the appointment of a Freedom of Information Commissioner, which brings the Freedom of Information Act closer to becoming law.

The Club sees this as a progressive step towards the strengthening of democracy, which we members of the media are bound to uphold.

The appointment of the Freedom of Information Commissioner and a deputy coincides with the observation of World Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2021.

This day as declared by the United Nations to observe and raise awareness of the importance of “Freedom of the Press” and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

“Information as a public good” is an apt theme for this year’s World Freedom Press Day. It recognizes and addresses people and conditions in every sphere across the globe, especially in these pandemic times of COVID-19.

In that vein, the Bahamas Press Club 2014 applauds and upholds those fearless Bahamian journalists who diligently seek out, uncover and report abuses and corruption that may otherwise go unheralded.

We salute those in The Bahamas who are daily insulted and vilified for their attempts at seeking out truth and fair play. And we honour those in war zones and dictatorial regimes, whose very lives are on the line for the stories they produce.

Friday 23 October 2020

Bahamas Press Club to Present at The World Press Clubs Alliance for Climate in Brussels

 

The Bahamas Press Club 2014 will join 120 press club partners around the world in the groundbreaking World Press Clubs Alliance for Climate to be held virtually at The Press Club Brussels Europe (PCBE).

The event will take place on Friday, October 23, 2020 - the eve of Climate Action Day – in a first ever 24-hour non-stop press conference. More than 23,000 affiliated journalists will participate successively in 24 time zones on positive climate actions and innovations.

The Bahamas Press Club 2014 is a charter member of the ACP Press Clubs Federation, with its Immediate Past President Anthony Newbold serving as Vice President.

As part of its contribution to the World Press Clubs Alliance for Climate press conference, The Bahamas Press Club 2014’s presentation submitted was centered on a video presentation provided by the Climate Change Unit in the Ministry of Environment and Housing.

The video, featured remarks by Prime Minister the Most Hon Dr Hubert A Minnis at a recent United Nationals General Assembly on Climate Change, the Hon Romauld Ferreira, Minister of the Environment and Housing who outlined activities of his ministry to combat Climate Change and its impact on the country, the Hon Darren Henfield, Minister of Foreign Affairs who exchanged views at the 20th Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting on the threat posed by Climate Change, Dr Rhianna Neely-Murphy, Head of the Climate Change Unit, Ministry of Environment and Housing, Shenique Albury-Smith, Director, The Nature Conservancy and other stakeholders.

Anthony Capron, President of The Bahamas Club 2014 said that the organization was pleased to participate in such a prestigious worldwide, groundbreaking press conference focusing on the climate.

“We know for a fact that global warming is taking place. Something must be done now to limit greenhouse gas emissions in the hope that its effects thus far can be reversed,” Mr. Capron said.

To view the press conference log on to The World Press Clubs Alliance for Climate website: www.worldpressclubsallianceforclimate.com

The Bahamas: (1 PM EST)


Please see wetransfer link below. (download within 48 hours)

https://wetransfer.com/downloads/9596430ef9de7e19ea2faae2e402edfe20201021222113/c74b91aca230c4ed4ad181be3f8b127a20201021222136/914d4e  

 

 

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Contact Lindsay Thompson, Secretary @ 242-434-5643

For more about the Bahamas Press Club 2014, visit www.bahamaspressclub.org

Facebook: The Bahamas Press Club 2014

Saturday 7 March 2020

New Secretary General of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States sets out ambitious roadmap for his tenure



ACP Secretary General Georges Chikoti



New Secretary General of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States sets out ambitious roadmap for his tenure


Veteran Angolan diplomat Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti took up his position as the new Secretary-General of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States in Brussels on 2 March 2020. In an upbeat speech to ambassadors from ACP countries and partner organisations on his first day in office, Mr Chikoti said that he had a plan for his first 100 days in office.

During a press briefing on 3 March at the Brussels Press Club, Secretary-General Chikoti unveiled his priorities as he takes the helm of the organisation comprising  48 countries from Sub-Saharan Africa, 16 from the Caribbean and 15 from the Pacific that are signatories to the Georgetown Agreement of 1975, the founding ACP instrument. He told reporters that high on his agenda will be the implementation of decisions from the 9th ACP Summit held in Nairobi last December. These include the change of the name of the organisation which will be known as the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACP), the focus on multilateralism and the expansion of the ACP-European Union partnership.

The new ACP Secretary General will also have a leading role in steering on-going negotiations with the European Union to replace the Cotonou Agreement which expires this year. Mr. Chikoti expects the process to achieve a fair and balanced new agreement, through a singular negotiating framework, to be completed soon and the new accord signed by end of the year.

Climate change will be another area of interest for Secretary-General Chikoti who plans to visit island nations and those affected hurricanes such as The Bahamas, while urging strong commitment from big nations in this regard.

Mr Chikoti, who spent over 30 years in his country’s diplomatic service and was Angola’s envoy to Belgium, Luxembourg and European Union before his ACP appointment, spoke of his commitment to raising the profile of ACP. He promised to work with- and support- media, including the ACP Press Clubs Federation currently chaired by the Kigali Press Club.

Tuesday 3 March 2020

Bahamas Press Club Stages 2019 Awards Ceremony


“Media in the Digital Age”
Bahamas Press Club Stages 2019 Awards Ceremony

NASSAU, The Bahamas - The Bahamas Press Club held its Fifth Annual Media Awards Ceremony themed: “Media in The Digital Age”, in Black Tie fashion at the British Colonial Hilton on Saturday, February 29, 2020.

The awards ceremony was held under the Patronage of Their Excellencies The Most Honourable Cornelius A. Smith, ON, Governor-General of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas and Mrs. Clara Smith.

The evening attracted many who laid the foundation for a thriving media profession in the country. There was entertainment by Solo, lots of gifts and prizes.

Anthony Capron, President of The Bahamas Press Club 2014, underscored that “from the beginning of time and through the ages, the central message has not changed. What has changed, overtime, is the method by which that message is brought to the public.”

Communication has transitioned from rock paintings of zigzag lines, dots, and symbols during the Stone Age, to this current era of new communication technologies. Now, stories can be typed and transmitted; photographs taken and sent; newspapers read; radio listened to; and television watched from one medium alone: a smartphone, Capron described.

A Blue Ribbon Panel of judges spent record-breaking hours reviewing the works submitted by the media in various categories including hard news, sports, features, business, politics, investigative, columns, documentaries and social media. The work must have been printed or aired between November 2018 and August 16, 2019. The deadline for submission was August 17, 2019.
The Press Club selected for the Trail Blazer Award, the Rt Hon Hubert Alexander Ingraham, Former Prime Minister, for establishing the framework private broadcasting and Cable TV, throughout The Bahamas.

And, the top honour for the evening – The Etienne Dupuch Lifetime Achievement Award, the recipient was journalist and diplomat Ed Bethel who began his journalistic career in 1959 at the Nassau Tribune under the tutelage of Sir Etienne Dupuch and Sir Arthur Foulkes. He went on to join ZNS as a sports editor in 1963, and spend many years there, worked at JCN and other news agencies; a stint a Bahamas Information Services as its Executive Director and served as Consul General to New York and as High Commissioner to the Court of St. James’s, London, and Ambassador to the European Union. He is also a former President of The Bahamas Press Club.

SEE BELOW, THE LIST OF CATEGORIES AND WINNERS:


1 - Leon Turnquest Award for Sports Print Journalism -
WINNER - Simba French – Sports Reporter, The Nassau Guardian

2 – The Phil Smith Award for Outstanding Sports Broadcast Journalism
WINNER: Jay Phillipe, Sports Reporter, ZNS (Northern Station)

The Kenneth Nathaniel Francis Award for Newspaper Design and Composition – WINNER: Whiteley McKinney, Page Designer, The Tribune

4 – The P. Anthony White Columnist of the Year
WINNER: Rogan Smith – Columnist  

5 - The Leslie Higgs Feature Writer of the Year
WINNER: Jeffarah Gibson – Features Writer, The Tribune

6 - The Cyril Stevenson Award for Outstanding Political Journalism
WINNER:  Genea Noel-Ferguson – Editor, Eyewitness News

7 – Best Documentary, Television (Long: 30 minutes to 1 hour)
WINNER: Clint Watson – Editor/Producer, Eyewitness News

8 - Best Documentary, Television (Short: 5 minutes to 30 minutes)
WINNER: Kenton Hepburn  - Digital Communications Officer, and Office of the Prime Minister.

9 – Best News Story, Broadcast
WINNER: Apryl Sands, Reporter, Eyewitness News

10 – Best News Story, Print
WINNER: Nico P Scavella, Reporter, The Tribune

11 – Best Business Story, Print or Broadcast
WINNER: Deandre Williamson, Reporter/Editor, Jones Communications Network

12 – Best Editing for Television News Story or Documentary
WINNER: Shamiko Gilbert, Eyewitness News

13 – Best Producer Award, Studio Live
WINNER: Genea Noel –Ferguson, Editor, Eyewitness News

14 – Best Producer Award, Live to Tape
WINNER: Shanaye Smith, Communications Officer, Office of the Prime Minister

15 – Website of the Year
WINNER:  ZNS (Gina Bethel)

16 – Social Media Award
WINNER: Eyewitness News, Eyewitness News Facebook Page

17 - Best Cinematography (Documentary)
WINNER: Kenton Hepburn, Digital Communications Officer, Office of the Prime Minister

18 – Best Video Editing
WINNER: Keesha Bethell, ZNS

19 – Best Newscast
WINNER: ZNS Northern Station 

20 – The Bahamas Press Club Student Media Award
WINNER: Anneisha Jones, University of the Bahamas Media Journalism School

21 – PAHO-WHO Excellence in Health Promotion Award
WINNER: Tosheena Robinson-Blair, Publicist & Freelance News Anchor  


Usually hosted in November of each year, The Bahamas Press Club 2014’s 2019 Awards Ceremony was postponed by Hurricane Dorian. As preparations for the November 2020 ceremony begin, The Bahamas Press Club 2014 looks forward to a continued outward expression of resilience- from members of the media and, overall, The Commonwealth of The Bahamas.

Journalist and Diplomat Edison “Ed” Bethel received The Etienne Dupuch Lifetime Achievement Award. 

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