When our TV news magazine show, 18º North, first launched in 2013, our mission was to raise the bar on investigative reporting in the Caribbean. We believe that journalists' fundamental responsibility is to ensure that those in power are not allowed to create their own narratives, but are held to a standard of truth.
Now six years later, we are proud to say we have done that, being featured on prestigious media outlets like National Public Radio in the United States and winning numerous awards. Our company, Global Reporters for the Caribbean, was even named a finalist by the London-based One World Media Alliance for its Special Award, given to an independent media organisation based in a developing country for outstanding reporting that informs the public, creates a space for critical information and holds those in power to account.
While extremely proud of the work we have done, these accomplishments have not come without challenges. It’s difficult trying to access information from Caribbean governments; expensive dealing with actual and threatened lawsuits and attempts by powerful individuals to stop our work from being published; laws that make investigative reporting difficult; our financial support being withdrawn at one point; bottlenecks to publishing at the distribution stage; and a reality that affects all media houses - the old model of distribution doesn’t work as well in today’s evolving media landscape.
Despite all this, 18 Degrees North intends to rise to the occasion...
Starting very soon, we will be experimenting with a video-on-demand service whereby you will receive an email, WhatsApp or social media message with a video teaser of an exclusive investigative report, and if it is of interest, you can click on the link to rent the report for US$4.99 using a major credit or debit card. You can even contribute more, if you feel inclined.
This will be your opportunity, as an individual, to sustain investigative journalism in the Caribbean, and help us cover so much more than we have done in the past.
As our thank-you for reading this email, take advantage of a FREE screening of our award-winning feature on convicted murderer and dancehall sensation Vybz Kartel, who continues to top music charts and release songs even while he’s behind bars. We also look at what his incarceration tells us about the state of rehabilitation programs in Jamaica’s prisons.
Thank you to all our partners, sponsors and advertisers who’ve supported us over the years. Now, let’s all join together, individuals and companies, in helping make investigative reporting work in the Caribbean!
Yours sincerely,
Zahra Burton
Executive Producer
18º North