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The Caribbean Media Summit was held at the University of Guyana from May 23 to 24. Journalists, media experts, teachers, and policymakers from across the region came to discuss the growing problems facing Caribbean media.
The theme was “Evolving Media Business Models in Turbulent Times – AI, Journalism and the Future.” While the topic was timely and ambitious, many participants felt the event didn’t offer clear solutions.
The summit was organised by the Media Institute of the Caribbean (MIC), the Guyana Press Association, and the University of Guyana. Speakers admitted that traditional media is shrinking across the Caribbean. Artificial intelligence (AI) and falling ad revenues are making it even harder for local news outlets to survive.
Who Was There
Some important people at the summit included:
- Kiran Maharaj from the Media Institute of the Caribbean
- Nazima Raghubir from the Guyana Press Association
- Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin from the University of Guyana
- Juan Señor from INNOVATION Media Consulting
- Wesley Gibbings from MIC
- Dr. Paul Hector from UNESCO
- Anand Persaud from Stabroek News
- Silvia Bacher from UNESCO’s Latin American media group
- Journalists from countries including Trinidad, Jamaica, Barbados, and St. Vincent
AI: Good or Bad for News?
AI was a major topic. Some said it can help with tasks like typing up interviews and checking facts quickly. Others warned that it might spread fake news, take away journalists’ jobs, and make people lose trust in the news.
Juan Señor warned that journalists should use AI carefully. He said we need “Hum-AI-ne” journalism, meaning humans should still lead, with AI as a tool. He added, “Truth must remain our product—not trend-chasing clickbait generated by machines.”
Even though people agreed on the risks, no one presented a regional plan or code for using AI responsibly.
Where’s the Money?
The bigger problem may be money. News companies are losing ads to big tech platforms, and people don’t want to pay for news. Kiran Maharaj said budgets are shrinking, and that “If we don’t solve the revenue problem, ethics won’t matter.”
Ideas like paywalls, partnerships, and funded projects were mentioned. But there were no detailed plans, especially for small islands with weak digital systems.
What is “QUUC” Journalism?
Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin suggested a new idea: “QUUC” journalism—Quick, Understandable, Ubiquitous, and Comprehensive. Some liked the idea, but others said it’s not really new. It sounds like standard good practice, but doesn’t show how to get there.
Workshops but No Action Plan
The event included smaller sessions on:
- Making money without ads
- Using AI in the newsroom
- Winning back public trust
- Teaching people how to spot misinformation
These sessions were lively, but again, nothing concrete came from them. There was no regional media fund, no shared AI rules, and no joint innovation projects.
Moving Forward, But Slowly
Caribbean journalism faces many pressures—from weak economies to political threats. The summit was a step toward regional teamwork. But for many reporters, it didn’t provide the tools they need.
As one editor put it, “Everyone agrees we need to act, but we keep coming away from these things without tools in our hands.”
The Caribbean must decide quickly how to use AI and save local journalism—or risk losing it to automated content and outside influence.
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