In this our June 2020 Community Chat, and with two members of the Caribbean tech community, data analyst, Andrew Olton, and freelance journalist and blogger, Mylène Colmar,  we discuss: the role of data and analytics in revenue recovery post-COVID-19, and the challenge of digital evolution experienced by Caribbean media

 

This episode is also available in Apple iTunes, Google Play Music and on Stitcher!

It was Sir Isaac Newton’s first law of motion that stated, “Every object in a state of uniform motion will remain in that state of motion unless an external force acts on it”. Simply put, an object will continue consistently and uniformly in the state it is currently in – such as either stationary or moving – unless some external force acts upon the object. Bringing this law into our current situation, and how we might address the impact of external forces, was the basis of our June 2020 Community Chat.

 

The role of data and analytics in revenue recovery post-COVID-19

Andrew Olton

Without a global pandemic, COVID-19, to readily absorb our attention, and the ensuing economic downturn so many countries have been experiencing, businesses worldwide, including Caribbean businesses, would have continued with the status quo. However, these external forces have been forcing organisations to revisit their business models and strategies, in order to adjust to the changing environment.

A key focal point, is getting revenue back on track, but that can be easier said than done. However, our guest panellist, Andrew Olton, is of the view that data and analytics are crucial tools organisations can leverage in their revenue recovery efforts.

Originally from Trinidad, Andrew Olton is a data analyst, who works as a Technical Services Consultant within the financial sector of Trinidad and Tobago. He recently completed his Master’s Degree in Information Systems and Technology Management at the Arthur Lok Jack Global School of Business, in Trinidad, and has a penchant for business strategy, data science and artificial intelligence.

Andrew is also a Data Analytics Career Mentor, at Springboard, which is headquartered in California, and  a Contributing Author for Towards Data Science. He enjoys reading and playing music in his spare time.

 

The challenge of digital evolution for Caribbean media

Mylène Colmar

At least a decade ago, and certainly before Web 2.0, which saw the emergence of user-generated content, blogs, social media, video and image sharing platforms, etc., media houses were the key resource for information and for current news development. Fast forward to today, and potentially, every individual is a content developer, and every individual can develop a platform from which to share his/her message.

That then new paradigm caused traditional media to adjust their trajectory. They had to reconsider their approach and posture about content and news, and what it takes to remain viable. However, and thanks to COVID-19, which has been the biggest story on the planet for at least the last five months, markets has slowed down, resulting is less advertising spend, and putting the continued operation of both traditional media houses and new media platforms in jeopardy.

Unfortunately, Caribbean media houses and platforms has not been immune to the impact of Web 2.0 and COVID-19, and our guest, Mylène Colmar, wanted the panel to discuss the challenge of digital evolution for Caribbean media.

Guadeloupean, Mylène Colmar is a freelance journalist and blogger since 2008. She is also an entrepreneur, president of Plume Caraïbe, an editorial consulting company.

She is known in the Caribbean for Le blog de Mylène Colmar,  which covers current news in the Greater Caribbean. This is supplemented by monitoring the #Caribbean news via the social network Twitter (her profile is @Mycho) and a monthly newsletter.

Mylène is also an editor. With Jessica Brudey, a Guadeloupean entrepreneur, she co-created Foodîles, le magazine totalement #FOOD, a print and digital magazine, which aims to highlight the Caribbean culinary world. She is also a member of GuadeloupeTech, a digital economy cluster in Guadeloupe

 

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Select links

Below are links to some of the organisations and resources that either were mentioned during the episode, or otherwise, might be useful:

 

 

Image credits:  Tumisu (Pixabay);  A Olton;  M Colmar

Music credit:  Ray Holman 

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