Grenada has no daily newspaper, one dominant national broadcaster that is part-owned by a regional media group, a crowded radio dial, and a news conversation that increasingly happens on Facebook and WhatsApp. For a country of little more than 100,000 people, that adds up to a surprisingly busy media scene, but one in which most outlets are small, thinly staffed and closely watched by politicians and audiences alike.
Newcomers, researchers and anyone trying to follow a local story often struggle to work out where news originates, who owns what, and which sources are official. This map sets out the main types of media in Grenada, how each works and what it is good for. Outlets open, close and change frequency, so treat named examples as a starting point and check what is currently publishing or on air.
Print: the weekly papers
Grenada's newspapers are weeklies. The Grenada Informer, established in 1985, and The New Today are the best-known titles currently associated with weekly publication, each with its own editorial voice and a following among readers who want long political commentary, court reports and investigative pieces. Other titles, including The Grenadian Voice, have played important roles at different times, and their current publication status is worth checking before relying on them.
There is also a business-oriented publication, Barnacle, described in directories as a monthly news and business journal. Several papers maintain websites or social media pages where articles appear alongside or ahead of the printed edition, which means the line between print and online has become blurred.
Weekly publication shapes the content. Papers cannot compete with radio or Facebook on breaking news, so they concentrate on analysis, opinion columns, letters, documents obtained by reporters, and follow-ups to stories that broke earlier in the week. Many Grenadians buy or read a paper for the editorial and the columns rather than for news they already know.
Broadcasting: radio and television
Grenada Broadcasting Network. GBN is the largest broadcaster, running television alongside several radio services: Klassic, Hott FM and GBN Gospel. It was formed in 1998 when a regional group bought a majority stake in the formerly state-owned Grenada Broadcasting Corporation. The majority shareholder is now part of One Caribbean Media, and the Government of Grenada holds a minority stake.
Private radio. A larger number of privately owned FM stations hold licences on the national broadcast register, ranging from talk and current affairs to music and religious programming. Names that appear on the register include WeeFM, Boss FM, Kiss Caribbean and Real FM, though line-ups change and some stations broadcast mainly online.
Carriacou. Harbour Light of the Windwards, a Christian station, has long been associated with Carriacou. Broadcast coverage and operating status on the sister islands are worth confirming, particularly after Hurricane Beryl in 2024.
Television beyond GBN. Most households receive local channels alongside international ones through pay-television and broadband providers. Local programming includes news, church services, sports and community events, while live coverage of Parliament is also carried through official channels.
Online outlets and social media
Online news sites have filled much of the gap left by the absence of a daily paper. NOW Grenada is among the most established, publishing daily news, press releases and commentary. Radio stations and newspapers also post stories, clips and live streams on their own pages, so a single story may appear in several places within hours.
Social media has become the first place many Grenadians see news, from road accidents to Cabinet decisions. Facebook pages run by individuals, community groups and political supporters share and comment on stories, sometimes ahead of professional outlets. WhatsApp groups circulate voice notes, photographs and screenshots at speed, which is useful during emergencies and risky when rumours spread unchecked.
The result is a fragmented audience. Older listeners may still rely on morning radio, younger people on social feeds, and the diaspora in New York, Toronto and London on websites and live streams. A story often moves from one channel to another, gaining or losing accuracy on the way.
How a typical story travels
Following one story through the system shows how the parts fit together. Suppose a fire breaks out at a business in St George's. Within minutes, photographs and short videos appear on WhatsApp and Facebook, shared by passers-by. Shortly afterwards, radio hosts mention it on air, sometimes reading out messages from listeners. Online news sites then post a short report, often citing the police or fire service once an official statement is available.
Over the next day or two, the Government Information Service or the police may issue a fuller statement, and television news carries footage and interviews. By the time the weekly papers appear, the facts are known, so their coverage focuses on questions: why the fire spread, whether safety inspections were up to date, what it means for workers. Talk shows then take up those questions the following week.
Each stage adds something and each carries risks. The first social media posts are fast but unverified; the official statement is accurate but limited; the weekly analysis is deeper but late. Readers who understand the sequence can judge how much confidence to place in what they are seeing at any moment.
Official channels: the Government Information Service
The Government Information Service, usually called GIS, is the state's communication arm. It issues press releases, produces programmes and video, photographs official events and publicises ministry announcements, from school schedules to disaster warnings. Its material is widely republished by private outlets, sometimes with little editing, which is one reason the same wording can appear across several news sites on the same day.
GIS output is the authoritative record of what the government says, which makes it useful for checking official positions, dates and statements. It is not independent journalism, and readers should treat it as the government's account. Opposition parties, unions and civil society groups issue their own statements, which outlets also carry.
Other official sources matter in specific areas: the National Disaster Management Agency during storms, the Royal Grenada Police Force for crime and road updates, the Parliamentary Elections Office during elections, and the Ministry of Health during public health events.
Who regulates and who supports the media
Several institutions shape the environment in which Grenadian media operate, though no single body regulates content in the way some countries do.
- National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission. The NTRC handles spectrum and licensing for broadcasters and keeps the national broadcast register of licensed radio frequencies.
- Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority. ECTEL advises its member states, including Grenada, on telecommunications policy and spectrum management at regional level.
- The courts. Defamation, contempt and copyright disputes are settled through civil litigation. Criminal libel was abolished in 2012, a reform discussed in detail elsewhere on Press.gd.
- Media Workers Association of Grenada. The MWAG represents journalists and media workers, comments on press freedom issues and organises training and events.
- Regional bodies. The Association of Caribbean MediaWorkers and international press freedom organisations monitor developments and speak out on legislation affecting journalists.
Mistakes to avoid when following Grenadian news
Assuming a press release is a news report. Much published content is lightly edited official or party statements. Look for whether a reporter added context, comment from others or independent checks.
Relying on one outlet. Each outlet has its own perspective and audience. Reading a weekly paper, listening to a talk show and checking an online site gives a fuller picture than any single source.
Treating a Facebook post as confirmed. Viral posts can be accurate, partial or false. Wait for confirmation from an official source or a professional outlet before acting on them, especially during emergencies.
Forgetting the sister islands. Coverage concentrates on St George's and the mainland. Developments on Carriacou and Petite Martinique, from ferry problems to post-Beryl reconstruction, can be under-reported, so residents there often rely on community groups and local contacts for detail.
Frequently asked questions
Does Grenada have a daily newspaper?
No. Grenada's newspapers publish weekly, with The Grenada Informer and The New Today among the best known. Daily news comes mainly from radio, online outlets such as NOW Grenada, and the social media pages of broadcasters and newspapers.
Who owns GBN?
The Grenada Broadcasting Network is majority-owned by a company in the One Caribbean Media group, which acquired its stake in 1998 when the state broadcaster was partly privatised. The Government of Grenada holds a minority shareholding.
What is GIS in Grenada?
GIS is the Government Information Service, the government's official communication unit. It issues press releases, produces programmes and covers official events. Its output is a reliable record of government positions but is not independent journalism.
Who licenses radio stations in Grenada?
Broadcast licensing and spectrum matters involve the National Telecommunications Regulatory Commission, which maintains the national register of licensed radio frequencies, working within a regional framework supported by the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority.
How can people abroad follow Grenadian news?
Most outlets publish online and on social media, and many radio stations stream their broadcasts. Members of the diaspora commonly follow news websites, live streams of talk shows and Parliament, and the Facebook pages of broadcasters and newspapers.
