Veteran broadcaster and lecturer Alma Mock Yen dies at 97

Jamaica’s media fraternity is mourning the loss of pioneering broadcaster, journalist, and educator Alma Mock Yen, who died on Wednesday at the age of 97 after a period of illness. Her passing deepened a week of grief for local media following the sudden death of sports broadcaster and filmmaker Donald Oliver.

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Mock Yen’s death prompted an outpouring of tributes recognising her decades-long contribution to broadcast journalism, media education, and the arts. In a statement, the Press Association of Jamaica described her as “not only an accomplished broadcaster, but also a trailblazer whose legacy will continue to influence Jamaican media practice for years to come,” adding that her passing represents “a significant loss to the profession and to the nation.”

Her career spanned several decades and multiple disciplines. Mock Yen was a broadcaster, a lecturer at the Caribbean School of Media and Communication at University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona, and a leading figure in Caribbean media development. Alongside the late actor Ranny Williams, she pioneered the Jamaican radio drama Life With The Morgan-Henrys, which aired on Sundays, and was among the first persons of colour recruited to work at RJR, now Radio Jamaica.

Beyond broadcasting, Mock Yen distinguished herself in dance and theatre. She was an original member of the Ivy Baxter Modern Creative Dance Group, performed in Noel Vaz’s Noah, appeared in pantomimes, and authored books on radio and media practice. A past student of Wolmer’s Trust High School for Girls, she attended the institution on scholarship in the 1940s and graduated at the top of her class in English literature.

Mock Yen was a member of Jamaica’s Order of Distinction and was honoured as a PAJ Veteran Journalist in 2011.

Minister of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport Olivia Grange described 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.” Grange highlighted her work in dance, broadcast journalism, and her tenure as head of the UWI Mona Campus Radio Unit.

“Her contributions were instrumental in shaping the landscape of media education and practice in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean,” the minister said.

Grange also noted Mock Yen’s role as one of the pioneering women in politics through her service as a parish councillor for the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).

“Outstandingly, she was one of the youngest school teachers on record, teaching English language and literature at Merl Grove High School at age 14,” she stated.

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The minister further noted that Mock Yen, a recipient of both the Musgrave Medal and the Order of Distinction, “mentored generations of journalists, instilling in them the values of integrity, excellence, and dedication.”

In a separate tribute, the Press Association of Jamaica described Mock Yen as a distinguished broadcaster whose voice, intellect, and professionalism helped shape Jamaican broadcast journalism for decades.

“Alma Mock Yen was a respected and pioneering figure in the media landscape, known for her calm authority, incisive interviewing style, and unwavering commitment to journalistic integrity,” the PAJ said, noting that she set high standards and served as a role model, particularly for women entering the profession.

House Speaker and Member of Parliament for St Andrew East Rural Juliet Holness recalled Mock Yen’s contribution to broadcasting and her service as JLP councillor for the Harbour View Division from 1981 to 1986.

“She lived a long and impactful life, dedicating her voice and service to public communication and community representation,” Holness said. “Passing at the age of 97, she leaves behind a legacy of contribution, leadership, and service to Jamaica.”

Prime Minister Andrew Holness, in a statement, said he acknowledged her passing “with deep sadness,” describing Mock Yen as a Jamaican whose life of service “quietly but powerfully helped to shape our national consciousness.”

“Mrs. Mock-Yen belonged to a generation that understood nation-building as both duty and discipline,” the Prime Minister said, noting her influence through broadcasting, education, and cultural life, as well as her grassroots service in East Rural St Andrew.

“Alma Mock-Yen’s legacy lives in the standards she set, the minds she shaped, and the example she left of what it means to serve Jamaica with integrity, humility, and intellectual rigor.”

On behalf of the Government and people of Jamaica, the Prime Minister extended condolences to her family and loved ones, adding: “We give thanks for her contribution to our country and honour her memory as one of quiet strength and lasting national value.”