Questions that are food for thought.
1. Is the Jamaica Gleaner too big and important to fail?
2. Will the Government step in and inject public funds to “save” what many consider a national treasure.
3. Given market trends and developments those in the know say, what is currently been done to stop the bleeding is too little to late.

“Stephens-Hall said as much as the company would love it, advertisers have not come back to their pre-pandemic spending levels. She reported that revenues had a marginal increase of roughly $54 million or about one per cent for financial year ended March 2024. She said most segments showed improvements, with audio-visual showing an improvement of $55 million and the audio segment showing an increase of $44 million but that this was offset by a reduction in the print segment, which had a loss of $44 million.”

The Caribbean Media Crisis: Can Digital Transformation Save Regional News?

Members of the Senate in Jamaica recently approved the Trade (Amendment) Act, 2024, which was piloted by Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Senator the Hon. Aubyn Hill.

He explained that insertion of new subsections in Clause Two of the legislation allows the Minister to facilitate importers who ordered or purchased consignments prior to the effective date of the prohibition Order – the Trade Plastics Packaging Materials Amendment Order 2024 – to import these goods without consequences.

“It should be noted that the Trade Plastic Materials Prohibition Amendment Order 2024 also provides that the distribution of plastic food containers should terminate on the 9th day of January 2025. As such, in the exercise of this discretion, the Minister will be guided by this timeline,” Senator Hill said.

The Trade Plastics Packaging Materials Amendment Order 2024 was promulgated on July 11, 2024.

The Minister further informed that Clause Two of the Act provides for the insertion of new Subsections Four, Five and Six.

Senator Hill explained that Subsection Four provides that, where an Order was made providing for an absolute prohibition on the importation of goods pursuant to Subsection 1A, the Minister may, by Order, specify that the consignments be treated in the same manner as goods imported prior to the effective date of such prohibition, if the Minister is satisfied of the matter in Subsection 5.

“Subsection 5 provides that the matter to which the Minister must be satisfied is that the relevant prohibited goods were ordered or purchased prior to the effective date of the prohibition. Subsection 6 provides that no criminal liability shall be imputed in respect of goods that are subject to an Order made under Subsection 4,” he said.

Senator Hill explained that the Bill seeks to amend Section 8 of the Act to provide for such Orders to remove consequences of the prescribed absolute prohibition for imported consignments of goods ordered or purchased prior to the effective date of the prescribed prohibition under Section 8 (1a) of the Act, which arrived in Jamaica on or after the effective date of the prohibition.

He further indicated that in 2018, the Government announced the implementation of a ban on the importation, manufacture and distribution of specific types of single use plastic products with the objective of safeguarding human health and the environment from the adverse impacts of plastics, in accordance with World Trade Organization Agreement obligations.

The Minister informed that on December 24, 2018, the Trade Plastics Packaging Materials Prohibition Order 2018 was published, prohibiting the importation of classes of plastic goods on a phased basis.

Senator Hill added that the Order was subsequently amended in 2022/23/24. He noted that these Orders were initiated by the Portfolio Ministry with responsibility for the environment, in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry, Investment and Commerce.

“In January 2024, the Government of Jamaica announced the implementation of the fourth phase of the ban on single use plastics, which would eliminate from the domestic market single use plastic food containers and replace Styrofoam containers as well as cosmetic care or personal care products for which microbeads or microplastics have been intentionally added,” the Minister said.

“The Government further indicated to the public that consignments ordered prior to the effected date of the prohibition would be allowed to be landed. In keeping with the main objective, the Trade Plastics Packaging Materials Amendment Order 2024 was promulgated on July 11, 2024, which effected an absolute prohibition on the importation of plastic food containers, effective as of that date,” he said.

Senator Hill noted that the prohibition has adversely affected importers who previously ordered or purchased consignments, which arrived or will arrive in Jamaica after the prohibition was in effect.

“The Government recognises the need to facilitate trade within Jamaica while, at the same time, safeguarding human health and the environment from adverse impacts of plastics. To address this issue, it was proposed that Section 8 of the Act be amended to empower the Minister to make Orders having retroactive effect,” he said.

The Trade Act provides for, among other things, the regulation of trade in goods, including the conditions of distribution, purchase and sale, and the importation and exportation, except under licence, of goods of any class or description.

By: Chris Patterson, JIS

Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams, says auditors will be using more artificial intelligence (AI) tools to carry out their duties.

“The Government will accelerate its deployment of technology in auditing by leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to improve efficiency, accuracy and insights into the organisational, financial and operational landscape,” Mrs. Williams said.

She was speaking during the annual Audit Committees’ Conference at The Summit in Kingston, on Thursday (November 7).

Minister Williams shared some of the ways in which she expects the technology to be used.

“It can be used to be predictive; it can identify trends and patterns in financial data that may signal potential risks or fraud. AI can be used to identify unusual transactions or deviations from established financial patterns, flagging them for review before they lead to significant issues. It can be used to automate the analysis of large volumes of financial and operational data, thus allowing you to perform deeper reviews without requiring intensive manual work,” she said.

Mrs. Wiliams added that, “AI tools can help to model various financial scenarios based on historical data and market trends, allowing Audit Committees to better understand the potential risks and impact on future financial health.”

The Minister emphasised that in a rapidly changing technological landscape, the Government must ensure that all the Audit Committees stay at the forefront of innovation, so that they can better anticipate and help to mitigate emerging threats, while enhancing the efficiency and transparency of the public purse.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Williams mandated the Audit Committees to include an environmental, social and governance (ESG) component in their reports.

She highlighted that reporting on ESG is the global trend, noting that it serves as an indicator that the Government is taking a wholistic approach to development.

“I’ve seen audit and financial reports from private sector companies, and they have a couple of pages talking about their environmental, social and governance audit that has been done, and it’s going to become real for us in the years ahead. So, I want to alert you to it,” Mrs. Williams stated.

An ESG Audit is a comprehensive evaluation of a company’s practices in relation to environmental, social and governance criteria.

It evaluates how a business manages and reports on sustainability and impact across the three key areas.

By: Andrew Laidley, JIS

Operators of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) are being encouraged to play their part in shaping Jamaica’s digital future.

The call came from Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Jamaica Business Development Corporation (JBDC), Harold Davis, who recently participated in the JIS TV programme, ‘Get the Facts’.

“Digital transformation is no longer a nice thing to have; it’s a need to have,” Mr. Davis said, as he outlined the transformative potential of the Digital Jamaica Project, which is set to enhance the country’s digital landscape.

He also emphasised the urgency of digital literacy, availability, and accessibility, noting that to compete globally, Jamaica must embrace a digital future.

“Digital literacy, availability and accessibility are major issues, and basically, the world has become a digital space, so for Jamaica to participate in the global economy, we have to move to have our country digitally enabled,” the Acting CEO said.

A recent JBDC survey revealed that only 33 per cent of MSMEs are actively utilising digital tools and recognising the benefits of digitalisation.

“We did a survey to assess the existing situation in our economy for all MSMEs and what we found was that there were varying levels of readiness of our MSMEs,” Mr. Davis noted.

While the figure is a start, he described it as “modest”, as the JBDC aims to raise it to at least 80 per cent.

Mr. Davis further explained that while many MSMEs are present on social media, they often lack comprehensive digital solutions that could enhance their operational processes.

“We also found that not a lot of them use digital solutions to really transform the belly of the organisation in terms of their processes, supply chain management and financial transactions, so we have a little way to go,” he said.

Having analysed the data, the JBDC is committed to increasing the number of MSMEs that leverage digital tools to their advantage.

“The JBDC is about general transformation of your business, making sure that your business moves into this space of being globally competitive. So, the first thing that we do is a robust 360 assessment of your business, as no one size fits all,” Mr. Davis explained.

This assessment involves the JBDC conducting thorough evaluations of businesses to determine whether a viable business model exists, and to ensure that companies are delivering on their value propositions.

If a business is not fulfilling that value proposition, further assessments are conducted to identify unique circumstances and opportunities for digitisation, digitalisation, and overall transformation.

MSMEs are also encouraged to view their digital journey in three phases – digitisation, which focuses on converting analog processes to digital formats; digitalisation, which utilises appropriate tools for e-commerce, supply chain, and human resource management; and digital transformation, which involves a comprehensive overhaul of business models to integrate digital solutions.

“I often say that digital transformation is not so much about the digital but about the transformation of your business,” Mr. Davis reiterated.

By: Sherika Williams, JIS

In the fast-growing world of social media influencers, the challenges of negotiating brand deals and securing fair compensation are becoming increasingly evident. Jamie Hamilton’s experience as a style influencer is a case in point. Like many new creators, she negotiated her first big brand deal alone, believing she had secured a good rate. However, she later discovered a fellow influencer on the same campaign, with similar follower numbers, was paid significantly more. The difference? Her colleague had professional representation, while Hamilton did not.

As the influencer marketing industry is projected to hit $24 billion by the end of 2024, with further growth expected in the coming years, the question of whether influencers should hire agents or negotiate independently has gained prominence. While some creators navigate this landscape on their own, others rely on professionals to secure deals, leading to a wide disparity in earnings and opportunities.

The Wild West of Influencer Marketing
Influencer marketing, despite its maturity, remains highly unstructured. Creators act as independent contractors, with no official market rate for content creation or promotion. Pay secrecy is widespread, and there is little transparency in how brands assign value to influencers. This lack of standardization has resulted in significant pay disparities, particularly among marginalized groups.

For example, reports show that plus-size and Black influencers often receive lower compensation than their peers despite similar audience sizes and engagement rates. Hamilton’s experience with pay inequality is echoed by numerous influencers, revealing a consistent pattern of underpayment for creators who do not fit a brand’s traditional image.

The lack of formal structures means that influencers often operate without the legal protections or support systems typical in other industries. Creators frequently face rapid rises and falls in their careers, with little recourse if brands decide to pull back from campaigns or cut budgets. Additionally, child influencers — some of the youngest in the field — face precarious working conditions, with only two U.S. states requiring parents to set aside a portion of their earnings.

The Role of Agents in Leveling the Playing Field
Given these challenges, many influencers are turning to agents and managers to represent their interests and navigate the complexities of brand partnerships. Agencies and management firms provide several advantages, including:

Negotiation Expertise: Agents bring a deep understanding of industry standards, brand expectations, and market rates, allowing influencers to secure more lucrative deals. They can effectively push back on low offers and demand fair compensation for their clients’ work.

Brand Connections: Agents often have established relationships with brands, PR agencies, and marketing firms, which can lead to higher-quality partnerships and more consistent deal flow.

Contract and Legal Protections: With formal representation, influencers can ensure their contracts include clauses that protect their intellectual property, likeness, and creative control. These professionals also help navigate potential legal pitfalls.

Leveling Disparities: For influencers from marginalized communities, agents can help address pay gaps by advocating for equitable compensation based on reach, engagement, and audience influence — rather than appearance or background.

Some agencies, such as Gleam Futures and Digital Brand Architects, have built reputations for representing top-tier influencers and securing multi-million-dollar deals for their clients. These agencies act as intermediaries, positioning influencers for long-term success while handling the complexities of contracts, fees, and negotiation.

Best Case Examples
A notable case involves Chiara Ferragni, a fashion influencer with over 29 million Instagram followers. Ferragni, who is now considered one of the most successful influencers globally, has representation through a top-tier management firm that helped her grow her brand into a multi-million-dollar business, complete with her own fashion line and global endorsement deals. Ferragni’s success is a clear testament to the power of having expert negotiators who can leverage influence for greater financial gain.

Another example is Jackie Aina, a beauty influencer and advocate for diversity in the beauty industry. Aina has consistently used her platform to push for inclusion, and through her representation, she has managed to negotiate higher-paying, more meaningful partnerships that align with her values. Aina’s success in securing deals with top beauty brands demonstrates how professional management can help influencers amplify their impact while ensuring fair compensation.

The Argument Against Agents
Despite these benefits, not all influencers see the need for agents. Some creators prefer to maintain control over their brand and business, fearing that agents might dilute their creative voice or charge hefty fees. While top influencers may find it easier to secure representation, smaller creators might struggle to justify the cost of hiring an agent, especially in the early stages of their careers when cash flow is uncertain.

Additionally, some influencers have successfully built their businesses through direct relationships with brands. For instance, Emma Chamberlain, a YouTube sensation, initially negotiated many of her deals on her own before eventually bringing in professional representation as her career expanded.

The Future of Influencer Marketing
As influencer marketing continues to grow, the debate over professional representation is likely to intensify. With the industry projected to contribute significantly to the U.S. economy by 2027, creators will face mounting pressure to formalize their operations, especially around issues of compensation and intellectual property. As Alicia Clanton pointed out in her extensive report on the industry, influencers are now key players in shaping public opinion, consumer behavior, and even political outcomes. This level of influence demands more structure and accountability.

For now, creators must decide whether to go it alone or seek professional representation. While hiring an agent might not be feasible for everyone, the benefits of having experienced negotiators at the table cannot be ignored — especially in an industry where pay disparities are rampant, and deals can be as unpredictable as they are profitable.

Ultimately, the choice may come down to the influencer’s long-term goals: Do they want to maximize short-term profits, or are they focused on building a sustainable, lasting brand? For many, the answer could well involve an agent’s helping hand.