CNS expands video unit
(CNS): Welcoming Kenneth Bryan to the CNS news team, Cayman News Service has expanded its video unit, which is already making great strides on CNS Business with reporter Jamie Hicks, to include local and headline news.
“With Cayman News Service, we accomplished what everyone told us was not possible, which was to make a totally online news organization in the Cayman Islands viable,” said Nicky Watson, who co-founded CNS with Wendy Ledger. “Thanks to Wendy’s amazing ability to cover all the news by herself, matching the coverage of entire news teams at other news organisations, Cayman News Service has become a force to be reckoned with.”
Now, CNS aims to break new ground with online video news reporting.
Jamie Hicks reporting for CNS Business
Hicks, who majored in broadcast journalism at the University of South Carolina, joined Cayman News Service just over one month ago as a business video reporter for CNS Business and is rapidly gaining a reputation for good solid news, presented in an easy entertaining style.
“We were so lucky to find Jamie,” Watson said. “She is a remarkably talented and versatile young reporter and is already making a huge difference to our business site. As well as being an excellent video journalist, she is also a very good writer, tackling the latest financial news, local business and tourism. She is exactly what we needed for CNS Business.”
“Being a news reporter has been my dream since I was a little girl growing up in a small town in South Carolina, and now being able to report on an international level is absolutely amazing. I’m very passionate about my job. I believe in the art of storytelling and the fact that ever voice deserves to be heard,” Hicks said.
“I will forever be grateful to my bosses at Cayman News Service for giving me this opportunity to try and make a difference in the business world of the Cayman Islands. Working for CNS Business allows me to keep living my dream here on the island. I love people and I love to tell their stories. I truly believe a stranger is just someone I haven’t met yet. I value my viewers’ opinions and I’m committed to being their voice when they can not be heard.”
“I was a reporter in the states for several years and I’m honored to be able to bring the skills and technique I learned, to my stories on CNS Business. I truly believe that we are a force to be reckoned with now that we have such strong video reporters. At CNS we have the skills, knowledge and motivation to get any job done. We are a group of talented and dedicated journalist who are committed to telling the side of the story you need to know.”
Bryan resigned from his position at Cayman 27 to run for a seat in George Town in the 2013 elections on a PPM ticket, and even though he was unsuccessful at the polls in his first campaign, Premier Alden McLaughlin hired him as his political assistant.
However, when the premier fired him after he was charged with an offence, even though he has not been found guilty and has protested his innocence, CNS snapped up the opportunity to hire one of the best home-grown video reporters to develop local video news.
“Kenneth is an outstanding journalist for the same reason he aspires to represent the people in the Legislative Assembly,” noted CNS Senior Reporter Wendy Ledger. “He really cares about the Cayman Islands and really cares about the people, and this shines through his reporting. The premier’s loss is really our gain, and we are delighted to have Kenneth on our team.”
Kenneth Bryan reporting for CNS
“It’s great to be back in news as it was the area that sparked my interest in representing the people,” Bryan said. “Although I have been taken away from a role where I was assisting the community directly, I can do so again through the media and I appreciate and thank CNS for allowing me to continue the fight for the people through the news medium. As reporters we have the chance to hold those in power accountable and ensure the people are informed about what’s going on in their community, and the new video unit at CNS provides us with an interactive platform to deliver news in an engaging and informative way.”
CNS is owned and operated by Ledger and Watson, the only two shareholders of the business, with no rich backers to sway the news cycle. With the recent addition of CNS Local Life, where we will be posting sports and community news, CNS now has four websites, including Cayman News Service, CNS Business and FreeCayAds.
“Video reporting is a new and exciting journey for CNS,” said Watson. “But now we have a cracking video team, we are confident that this will complement our written reports and build on what we have already.”
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Category: Local News
Nice move CNS and happy for Kenneth. I think the PPMs actions towards you were despicable when considering the circumstances, especially in the light of how they looked after Ozzie only weeks before over what in my mind was a much more serious matter. I wish you well my friend.
Good to see Kenneth in front of the camera once more. Thought the comment about the Premier not being at the game was a bit petty, but otherwise a good report. Better you stick to what you are good at Kenneth and good luck with your new video news CNS.
I’m glad he highlighted it. It’s sad that my son and the guys work so hard and the leader doesn’t even show up to support.
Rich backers??? What are you trying to say?
They are trying to say that other papers have rich backers that dictate what they report on. Unlike CNS who only prints the news without trying to influence peoples opinions or political affiliation..
Good for him, he’s way better off sticking with Journalism..Politics are not for good caring people..
Very good happy for you kenneth
Here’s to hoping he takes the camera with him on some weekends out at the club…..
Your point?
Your point in asking?