Melville Cooke excelling as lecturer and journalist

Melville Cooke's professional life been shaped by a love for both education and journalism. As a full-time lecturer in the bachelors of arts, communication arts and technology programme at the University of Technology, Jamaica, he imparts knowledge with a passion that is infectious. His classes are not mere lectures, but rather, vibrant discussions that challenge students to think critically and creatively.

"I really like what I do...I'm doing what I teach and teaching what I have done," Cooke said. His lectures are taught with real-world examples, drawing from his experiences as a journalist to provide context to academic theories. It's this blend of academia and journalism that gives him an edge.

"I'm in the classroom with young people; some just out of high school. The major thing has been to impress upon them of how important having the idea is...writing is at the core of everything to do with media and communications," Cooke stated.

Beyond the confines of the lecture hall, Cooke's pen slides across the pages of his editorial column for Riddim Magazine, a prominent German publication.

"It's the biggest circulation magazine on Jamaica popular music...that doesn't mean that I write or read German. I write it in English and it is translated for me," Cooke explained.

Born and raised in Jamaica, it was always been his dream to make a difference in the world through education and journalism. Since Cooke started his journey, there was never a moment of uncertainty.

"They flow naturally into each other...it's a good relationship. I hope to always be doing the both of them...I have never had a single moment of not wanting to keep going. I have never had any doubts," Cooke said. But while Cooke traverses a dual career path, balancing his roles as a lecturer and journalist, he still finds time to engage in another passion: writing poems.

"I was always writing poetry...I write far less than I used to, in one sense, but in another sense I'm writing far more than I used to," Cooke said. On World Poetry Day, which was celebrated on March 21, Cooke won the 2024 Edward Baugh Prize for Poetry.

As he walks through the halls of the University of Technology, Jamaica, his presence is a reminder that passion knows no bounds. Continuing to lead budding media practitioners, Cooke reminds them to make sure they build something that they can be proud of.

"When you are in the long haul and you look back from your 40s, and perhaps retirement age, what would you have contributed? Everyone wants to build a catalogue...something they can be proud of. So in order to do that, you need to maintain your integrity," Cooke said.