Sadeke Brooks, Staff Reporter

While Jamaicans at home will be having a grand time during the country's 50th independence celebrations, others in the diaspora will also be getting a taste of the excitement through an entertainment programme that will be aired on various radio stations in the United States and Canada.

Dave Rodney, media marketer of IMAGES Media LLC, said his company will rebrand its syndicated radio series, The NYC E-Report. Last Saturday, the show's new name was revealed. From then until the end of the year, the show will be called Jamaica 50 - The NYC E-Report.

Currently, the show can be heard on stations in Ontario, Canada, South Florida and New Jersey, but it will start airing on other stations.

"Two thousand and twelve will be an extremely important year for Jamaicans in the Diaspora as we focus on the achievements of our people and country," Rodney said.

"With this in mind, we decided to change the name of the radio series to Jamaica 50 - the NYC E-Report, to pay homage to the 50th anniversary of Jamaica. We added Irie Jam, WVIP 93.5 FM in New York which serves the largest population of Jamaicans in the diaspora and WWEE 1100 AM, Island Blend Radio, the loudest voice to Caribbean nationals in Atlanta.

With the expansion of Caribbean programming on WWEE to six days per week, it made sense to have them on board."

The show's host, Anthony Turner, shared views similar to those of Rodney's.

"I think 50 years is a major milestone and accomplishment for the country. Being in the diaspora, a lot of people will not be aware of some of the things that are taking place. It's the perfect opportunity to inform and educate them," he told The Sunday Gleaner.

Turner said Jamaica's entertainment history and some of the activities taking place in Jamaica and the diaspora will be looked at.

In addition, he said a list of the top 50 songs over the 50 years since Independence will be selected. This list will be aired on the show and published in a magazine. He added that interviews will be done with persons who have made a major contribution to entertainment.

"We are really looking to feature some of the people who have contributed significantly to the entertainment landscape," Turner said.

Rodney added: "We have also expanded the feature on 'The Saturday Show' on WAVS, 1170 AM in Florida from five to 20 minutes. This will give us time to conduct interviews and address happenings at home and in the diaspora for the year-long Jamaica 50 celebrations in 2012."

The full slate of participating stations to carry the feature includes Sound 100.3 FM, Twin-cities, Ontario, Canada (Monday, DJ Cool); WAVS, 1170 AM, South Florida (Tuesday, Mikey B); HOT 102 FM, Jamaica (Friday, Richie B); WWWE Radio, 1100 AM, Atlanta (Saturday, Lou Brown); Rewind Radio, 90.9 FM, New Jersey (Saturday, Garfield); WAVS, 1170 AM, South Florida (Saturday, Captain Kirk); Irie Jam, 93.5 FM, New York (Saturdays, DJ Roy & Dubb Master Chris; Touch 106.1 FM, Boston (Saturday, Sandy Daley) and the MOC radio urban network (www.mocradio.com) on Saturdays.

"Definitely, I think it's something that people should want to listen. It's going to be cutting-edge," Rodney told The Sunday Gleaner.

"I am extremely excited about the new season. We are taking a fresh approach to the radio feature in an attempt to provide an exciting platform for the pride and euphoria that will explode as Jamaicans in the diaspora celebrate Jamaica's 50th anniversary in 2012 and beyond," he added.











