Jamaica’s media landscape is mourning the loss of two iconic figures this week, with veteran broadcaster and educator Alma Mock Yen passing away on Wednesday at age 97. Her death comes just one day after the sudden passing of sports broadcaster Donald Oliver, creating a profound sense of loss within the nation’s media community.
Mock Yen, who had been in declining health, leaves behind an extraordinary legacy spanning broadcast journalism, education, politics, and the arts. Tributes poured in from across Jamaican society recognizing her multifaceted contributions to national development.
Culture Minister Olivia Grange celebrated Mock Yen as “a woman of class who distinguished herself in all of what she did for the many years that she spent in public life.” Her remarkable career began exceptionally early, with Mock Yen becoming one of Jamaica’s youngest school teachers at just 14 years old, instructing English language and literature at Merl Grove High School.
Her broadcast journalism career was pioneering, but perhaps her most enduring impact came through her leadership of The University of the West Indies Mona Campus Radio Unit, where she mentored generations of media professionals. “Her contributions were instrumental in shaping the landscape of media education and practice in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean,” Minister Grange emphasized.
The Press Association of Jamaica memorialized Mock Yen as “a respected and pioneering figure in the media landscape, known for her calm authority, incisive interviewing style, and unwavering commitment to journalistic integrity.” The association noted she set high standards for broadcast journalism and served as a role model particularly for women entering the profession.
Beyond media, Mock Yen broke barriers as one of Jamaica’s pioneering women in politics, serving as a parish councillor for the Jamaica Labour Party from 1981-1986. She was also an accomplished dancer who led her own dance troupe and received national honors including the Musgrave Medal and the Order of Distinction.
Colleagues and former students remembered her exacting standards and dedication. Veteran journalist David Geddes noted she “epitomised the adage ‘the word is mightier than the sword,’” while former KLAS FM head Neville James called her “a legend” whose influence on Jamaican media would endure through the countless practitioners she trained.