March 24, 2013 will mark three (3) years since Irie Jam Media Group (IJMG) inserted a talk show into its weekly program schedule for its mostly Caribbean audience.
Hosted by Irwine Clare, Sr, a community activist and Aubrey Campbell, a media practitioner, the show, ‘The Fact Of The Matter, is heard exclusively on radio station WVIP, 93.5 FM, Sundays, from 8-9 pm.
The show, produced then by Janice Julian, the well known and highly respected newscaster, aired for two hours with a menu of subject matters and a guest list that breathed life into Irie Jam’s boast about ‘real Caribbean radio.
“The Fact of the Matter” is not your ordinary radio talk show. To begin with, the hosts are not ordinary and that makes for more than 6 degrees of separation,” opined Louis Grant, who executive produces the weekly, one hour talkfest on the topical issues of the day with Robert ‘Bobby’ Clarke.
“We promise our listeners tough talk, as we dissect the issues and concerns impacting our community, and so far, we have delivered,” noted Clare, Sr, head of the Caribbean Immigrant Services (CIS)….
“From politics to religion, sports, education, the economy and immigration, no subject matter is off limits,, as long as it’s germane to our community, and you never know who will be on the hot seat from week to week,” added Clare, Sr, who was recognized by the Government and people of Jamaica last year for his body of work in the Diaspora.
To mark the 3rd anniversary of the show, Irie Jam will do a live broadcast from Henrica’s (Jamaican/Chinese) Restaurant, 138-89 Francis Lewis Blvd, Rosedale, NY, on Sunday, March 24, from 6-9 pm, and the community is invited.
The Sunday evening sit down has undergone some changes over the years. It’s now a more compelling sixty minutes of conversation. And to help with the departure of Julian, the team has added Sharon ‘Lady B’ Richards, who helps with production and shares her ‘health tips’ with the listeners.
It’s the first time that the entire show will be done on the road (outside the studio), giving the audience a chance to see the team up close and personal, at work. The show is streamed live at: www.iriejamradio.com, and can be heard on your smart phones by dialing: 832-225-5365.
“It’s an opportunity to take the ‘conversation…not controversy’ to the next level, in a live, interactive setting and the entire Irie Jam family is excited for a number of reasons”, offered Campbell, a veteran broadcaster, dating back to 1980 with the – now disbanded - Jamaica Broadcasting Corporation (Radio West).
For Irie Jam Media Group, the number one independent provider of Caribbean content for radio in the NE/USA since 1993, everyday is a celebration, thru’ December 31, 2013.
That’s when the year long, 20th anniversary celebrations for the team with the ‘iriest jam around town, barring none’ ends.
