As many of you will know, our portfolio now includes The Guam Guide, and radio stations Wave 105 FM and Power 98.
The media profession has recently gone through disruption in Guam and as I have shared with anybody who has asked for my opinion, that has not been good for the profession or our media landscape.
However, Glimpses has always been a stable organization, and we have been through disruption before. During the challenging years of 2001 and 2002 typhoons repeatedly battered and beat our economy in Guam.
Organizations that look for solutions and opportunities in tough times survive, and so in 2003 we launched this paper, now a go-to for unique regional news, and available across multiple platforms.
But back to today.
We are lucky that the radio folks are people we know and thank the lord — considerate people as we become one team and as construction goes on around them.
There has been prep work in bringing the radio stations under our roof, and we have been deep diving into construction.
The broadcast studios are up and running. As I write, the newsroom is a work in progress, but the end is in sight. The newsroom was always built for growth, so in that respect we are fortunate. The engineering team and the IT team are putting in new and additional infrastructure. Additional furniture is already in the newsroom. The radio teams are currently working out of one of our conference rooms — efficiently and without complaint.
If you head for the employee lounge or basically anywhere in our part of our Group HQ building, there are all sorts of things stacked against the walls. This too shall pass.
And plenty of people from our group are stopping by to visit and see the changes, which is a plus.
For me, this has also been a learning experience.
For example, I have always listened to Patti Arroyo in the mornings. I am familiar with her audience — it’s my readers — you, and you, and you — wherever you are — and a mix of demographics.
I was less familiar with Power 98. I asked, who listens to Power 98? Which issues are those people interested in? I learned a lot.
And our expanded sales team can tell you all about that too.
From a news perspective, expect to be contacted in 2024 — yes, you, and you, and you. We have some unique coverage planned for this year.
And we have even managed to add to the news team in a labor-challenged market where proficient journalists are also hard to find.
There is certainly no lack of news for us to follow — which legislative bills are frivolous, and which will affect the cost of living, what moves the U.S. military is making in our region against a background of continuous geopolitical issues, and the election campaigning — current and future in our region. And of course, news of businesses and organizations around the region, and new players entering our markets.
In the meantime, thank you for your support as we head deeper into the New Year, and your congratulations as we expand. mbj
— Maureen N. Maratita is the publisher at Glimpses Media. Publications at Glimpses Media include the Marianas Business Journal, MBJ Life, The Real Estate Journal, Guam Business Magazine, Beach Road Magazine, Buenas and Drive Guam.