Krysta Anderson, Gleaner Writer
Maia Chung is a woman who wears many hats. She is a single mother of three, the current director of communications and public relations of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), managing director of the Maia Chung Autism and Disabilities Foundation, and now, the CEO of Maia Chung Television. "What inspires me is the desire to see a more diverse range of Jamaican content being shown nationally, regionally and internationally," she shared with Flair recently of her three-year-old company. "We are rich in culture, stories of courage and intellects that can assist in shaping the globe in a positive way. I also am trying to shape a better role for women in television media, just being talented, based on certain inherent gender tendencies, seems an injustice akin to the whole treatment of autism. We can add something positive to this relevant factor of modern life."
Chung notes that for far too long, women have been swept under the radar and those in managerial positions are often reporting or answering to a man of higher authority. She explains "I got involved in television in 2000. I was disappointed to see that there were so few women in positions of power, or where there were jobs that were deemed 'men only' - such as female camera operators. I assessed the environment and saw that while women did rise to general manager status, they always answered to men, which from a personal point of view, I found insulting."
Realising the dream
She continues, "The idea to use entrepreneurship and mould this into a reality came to me in about 2010. I thought what would be a cost effective way to shift the existing paradigm, satisfy my ambition of owning a broadcast media content delivery mechanism, and operate a business - something I quite like doing." She explains that MCTV works with independent producers who bring their shows for airing under the brand Maia Chung. "MCTV is the connecter for these producers with content and programmes that I feel can best represent my brand, to a global audience. Jamaica is the 'it' territory now, so globally people want to see programmes we create here, that showcase Jamaica."
Agri Life, Premiere League Football, Small People, Einstein's, My Day, Jamcity, Jamaica Specials, Unleashed and Hitting Di Streets, are some of the programmes aired on MCTV covering the wide range of agriculture, sports, science, lifestyle, health and entertainment activities. So far Chung is very proud of what she has been able to achieve. "Through partnerships with entities such as FLOW and PBCJ among others, we send out content around the world to at least 500,000 commutative viewers monthly. The reach we have is phenomenal, with MCTV now spanning 15 Jamaican cable stations and disseminates well produced series." She also has some children programmes and news features which are in the developmental stages. But so far she is confident in what she has so far been able to accomplish and that her work will, "add strength and dimensions that are positive to the perception of Jamaicans as a people. There are already sufficient channels and disseminators that focus on negatives and poor standards, so as long as you are positive and fit in with the family viewing regulations, MCTV will give you a listening ear."
Chung hopes to empower more women in media to diversify the existing state of television media and the women who operate in it, with MCTV. Her advice to those who desire to follow in her footsteps - "devise different, new and positive ways to impact your world. Nothing is new under the sun, but things can be tweaked to create a form of newness on an old style, that suddenly brings on another and better level."
krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com
