Yello Interviews: Patrick Brendel, Founder of the Cayman Current
by Chantel DaCosta Feb 15, 2021
Patrick Brendel is founder and editor of the non-profit digital-first media platform the Cayman Current. Brendel has lived in the Cayman Islands since 2011 and took a moment to share with Yello his life in the Cayman Islands and his plans to develop the Cayman Current.
Describe yourself in three words.
Trying my best.
Tell us about your background.
I’m originally from Texas. I met my wife, who is Caymanian, while studying at university in Indiana. I spent the first half of my journalism career primarily working in Texas, focusing on state government, politics and policy. My wife and I moved back to the Cayman Islands in 2011 to raise our family. We now have four children, ages three to 11. I worked for the local daily Cayman Compass newspaper from 2011 to 2019, including several years as the Executive Editor in charge of the newsroom, answering directly to the owner/publisher.
Where did you get the idea to start the Cayman Current?
Amid industry-wide difficulties in journalism, one of the positive narratives in the US has been the rise of non-profit, public-service journalism. Non-profit media mainly derive their funding from voluntary donations, as opposed to for-profit media who raise revenue through advertisements, subscriptions, etc. Concurrently, while the Internet has diminished revenue for traditional print publications, it has also dramatically lowered the bar for entry into the market for digital-first journalism organisations. In the US, I worked as an editor for a non-profit digital-first news organisation, and I have many friends and colleagues there who work for, have worked for or helped establish these types of organisations. Education is the number one issue facing any society, including the Cayman Islands, and so it was the natural choice for the Cayman Current to focus on. For-profit journalism in Cayman has been receding, leaving gaps in news coverage, particularly on public interest topics such as education. At a basic level, the Current’s three defining characteristics (non-profit, digital-first, and focused on education) are possible solutions to problems created by larger trends in the journalism industry.
Tell us a little about your position and what you do on a day-to-day basis.
I am the founder, director and editor of the Cayman Current, which is a registered Cayman Islands not-for-profit charitable organisation. In other words, nobody — including me — has an ‘ownership’ stake in the Current. Although we have plans for growth and expansion contingent upon the level of financial support from the community, as it stands now, I do nearly all the work to keep the Current running. That means I conduct interviews, do research, write stories, build graphics, update/design the website, manage social media, liaise with partners, oversee fundraising, take care of administrative tasks, etc. Given that the Current is a one-person organisation right now, my day-to-day performance goals are to publish at least one new piece of news content each day, and at least one more-ambitious project a week. Working from home and with four young children, I tailor my work schedule to school hours and kids’ activities. That means early mornings, nights and weekends — which isn’t unusual for new or small businesses (or journalism in general).
How has the Cayman Current been evolving?
We officially launched 1 September 2020, so it’s been more of a growth process than an evolution. I have been approaching our 1st year of operation in 3-month increments. The first quarter was our launch period, where I focused on creating our core products, introducing the Current to key stakeholders, and basically building the news and editorial foundation of the organisation. The second quarter (which concludes at the end of February) has been about taking our fundraising and ‘business’ side to the next level of professionalism. For example, we contracted with local firm Tower Marketing to act as our fundraising agents and seek support on our behalf from the business community. The next quarter (March-May) coincides with the Cayman elections, so we will be focusing on elevating the status of education as a key public policy issue during the campaign, and we are also moving the Current from having a purely online presence into the physical space — by beginning to host regular events that will highlight the topic of education, and also (hopefully) have a fundraising component.
What do you like best about your job?
It has been a real joy, for many reasons. I get to practice the trade (journalism) that I went to school for, that I’ve accrued 15 years of experience in, and that I love doing. I get the chance to build up something that I created and have control over. Above all, I believe in the mission of the Current — to improve the education system in the Cayman Islands through our public service journalism that informs the community, promotes civic engagement and facilitates discourse. We have an opportunity not only to have a positive impact on the individual lives of thousands of students in Cayman, but to enable current and future generations to shape our country’s longer-term economy and society, for the benefit of all. Also, I get to be my own boss, and my schedule is pretty flexible so I can spend more quality time with my family.
What do you like the least about your job?
My boss has high expectations that can sometimes be difficult to fulfil.
What are your plans for the Cayman Current?
For at least the first year, we are laser-focused on education in Cayman. Depending on the level of fundraising and the wishes of supporters, there is also the possibility of expanding geographically and/or to other subject areas. A fully matured non-profit public-service journalism organisation in Cayman, for example, could cover subjects such as education (of course), healthcare, sustainability, infrastructure, innovation, justice, and public accountability. The Current’s model could also be extended to, replicated in or adapted to similar jurisdictions such as other BOTs that may be experiencing the same sort of trends in Education and Journalism as in Cayman. Again, any future expansion would be driven by supporters and would enhance the Current’s mission not compromise it.
What developments would you like to see in Cayman Islands education system in the next 10 years?
The ultimate goal for Cayman’s education system is for it to be equitable, affordable and enviable. That means fair opportunities for all students, without breaking the budgets of households or the government treasury, and with results that other jurisdictions look upon as a model to which they hope to aspire. What that looks like in practice, and how we would get there, I think is a larger endeavour that our community must work together to work toward.
What do you love the most about the Cayman Islands?
It’s easy to be comfortable in Cayman. It’s about the same size as my hometown in Texas, and I’m surrounded by family. It’s also an interesting place to be a journalist because Cayman faces challenges that can be found in small communities and large nations, but also has a unique set of opportunities that previous generations worked to establish, that is, the financial services industry.
In your free time, what are your hobbies?
Reading and martial arts.
What is your philosophy/approach to life?
I don’t know, but I’d like to find out.
If you could have a superpower, what would it be and why?
I’m not picky.