W A Stephenson

William Alexander Stephenson was born in July 1878, probably in St Andrew. He received his schooling at the Half-Way-Tree Middle Grade School and at Wolmer’s School. The strong moral influence of the Rev H H Isaacs, headmaster of the Half-Way-Tree school, who urged his pupils to ‘be of use in your day and generation’, suggested journalism to the young Stephenson as the best way in which he could serve.

He got his first job at Gall’s News Letter, and later moved to The Telegraph. Finally he became a valued member of the staff of the Daily Gleaner. His brother, W G Stephenson, also worked for the Gleaner. He did a variety of reporting for that newspaper, being especially known for his cricket reporting. He also did very valuable reporting of Kingston city life; in “Squalid Kingston”, published by the Social History Project of the Department of History, U W I Mona, can be found examples of the journalism of both W A and WG Stephenson (“W A S” – Chapter 4; “W G S” – Chapters 5 and 6).

His work also appeared in the Jamaica Times. He won a prize offered in the paper’s early days, for the best story submitted. Later he contributed a series of articles under the nom-de-plume “Flying Adjutant”. He maintained a high regard for the work of the Times.

W A Stephenson had a distinctive journalistic style, which became well known and much appreciated in the island. On reading a piece by him, even if unsigned, the knowledgeable reader could say – “That is Stephenson’s.”