Cayman Compass Unveils 60 Years of News in Newly Digitized Public Archives

Cayman’s national newspaper of record, Cayman Compass, today announced the launch of a comprehensive digital archive, making more than six decades of Cayman Islands journalism publicly accessible, free of charge, in a fully searchable online database. The archive spans every issue published since the newspaper’s very first edition on 6 October 1965, offering an unprecedented window into the history, culture, and development of the Cayman Islands. All the archives are available to the public at www.caymancompass.com.

Through an extensive digitization initiative, every article published by the Cayman Compass has been carefully scanned, indexed, and preserved. The project represents a major technological achievement and a significant investment in safeguarding Caymanian heritage.

Using advanced AI-powered tools, the Cayman Compass team transformed thousands of archived newspapers into a dynamic digital resource containing more than 500,000 articles. The result is a living archive that captures the social, cultural, political, and economic evolution of the Cayman Islands. For the first time, readers, researchers, students, and historians can explore reporting that chronicle the people, milestones, and events that have shaped the islands over the past 60 years. From political developments and economic growth to community life and cultural moments, the archive provides a living record of the Cayman Islands’ evolving story.

The launch comes at a time when access to verified, historical information is increasingly critical, reinforcing the role of trusted journalism in an era of misinformation. Dart Media and Entertainment, which acquired Compass Media in 2023 and is directly owned by investor Ken Dart, identified the archive as a critical investment in preserving Cayman’s national record while strengthening the organisation’s digital future.

“Dart’s investments in Compass Media are a reflection of belief in the value Cayman’s past and the importance of quality journalism to its future,” said Jackie Doak, Director of Dart Media & Entertainment. “Building on the creation of Compass TV and the TimeBack photo collection, the Archive is the latest demonstration of Dart’s commitment to the people, technology and values that are essential to a world class media company and the community it serves.”

The searchable database allows users to quickly find articles by keyword, topic, or date, transforming decades of print journalism into an easy-to-navigate digital resource that provides both text and an image of the actual newspaper page.  The initiative not only protects fragile print records but also ensures that the stories of the Cayman Islands remain available in perpetuity.

“This archive ensures that Cayman’s past remains accessible to everyone,” said Tripp Donnelly, Publisher of Compass Media. “By digitizing every article since our first issue, we are preserving the voice of our community and making it available for generations to come. The Cayman Compass invites the public worldwide to explore the archive and rediscover the events, achievements, and voices that have defined the islands for more than six decades.”

"What we are putting into the public domain is what could be considered the first draft of Cayman’s modern history. Every major national moment, and many of the quieter ones that mattered just as much, lives in these pages,” said Tammi Sulliman, Head of News & Content at Compass Media. “Grounded in fact-based, balanced and independent journalism, this archive is about transparency, accountability and identity. It can be said a country that can see its past clearly is far better equipped to navigate its future.”

As the archive continues to grow, every new story published will automatically become part of this permanent digital record. In this way, today’s news will become tomorrow’s history. Compass Media invites the public to explore the archive, search its history and rediscover the moments that have shaped the Cayman Islands.