2014 and the success story of Guyana Entertainment Magazine (GEM), Guyana’s first lifestyle and entertainment magazine, which has weathered the storm to celebrate a decade in existence. Launched on January 30, 2004, at the Tower Hotel in Georgetown, this bi-monthly magazine made history when it drastically changed the rules of the publishing game in Guyana with its high quality, full-coloured glossy look.
Their journey first began in 2002, a full two years before the actual launch of GEM when its Founder and Publisher, Mr. Simeon Corbin, who was based overseas at the time, contemplated doing an events calendar-type publication. The idea at the time was to inform locals and visitors to the country about the entertainment and other activities occurring year-round. After lengthy and convincing discussions with his family and friends, Mr. Corbin’s concept soon developed into a full size lifestyle and entertainment magazine, and as the saying goes, the rest is history.
GEM’s premiere edition was truly a work of art, as it was the first time, people, places and events related to Guyana were presented in an international quality magazine with features pertaining to the our culture and lifestyle running from cover to cover.
Gracing the first cover was Miss Guyana Universe 2004 2nd runner-up, Michelle Armstrong, brightly dressed in a Mashramani costume on a glossy yellow background. “In the beginning, the odds appeared to be against us,” said Mr. Corbin, who spoke candidly about the early days of GEM. “You see, around that time, people had a very negative perception of Guyana as a crime-ridden country where all we did was run around the streets committing crimes. Today, the image of the country has changed tremendously, not only because of GEM, but also because of the other forms of media outlets who have taken up the torch of helping to shine a brighter light on the positive sides of our society.”
Corbin further added that before GEM arrived on the scene, people were accepting of the mediocrity being passed as “quality” in publishing at the time. There is no doubt that GEM with its world-class pictures and to-the-point style of reporting has raised the stakes in magazine production and changed the way people see Guyana. Even when things are not at its best in society, the magazine always seem to find ways of delivering uplifting content. In the years since its inception, GEM has continuously upped the ante after miraculously withstanding the ups and downs of Guyana’s economy and a world recession to deliver 60 copies – all masterly done.
Over the years, they have seen great measures of success with small, media and large sized companies seizing the opportunity to promote their products among its glossy pages. GEM has also had a potpourri of who’s who in business, sports, entertainment, music, fashion and media on its covers.
Although GEM is definitely a success story in comparison to the many magazines which have failed throughout the years, Mr. Corbin tells us that: “Before our first issue came out, things didn’t look too good. We weren’t able to secure any sponsorship, but we went ahead anyway and published the first edition because we had very strong convictions about our product and its concept. To our surprise though, the first edition did reasonably well on the newsstands and generated enough of a buzz which gave us the much needed inspiration to do the second one.”
Speaking with Managing Editor and a Director at GEM, Mrs. Coretta Corbin-Rival who also remembers that, “GEM was a hard sell to some editors, writers and photographers also since. Many people did not understand the concept of the magazine and didn’t believe that we could do an all-positive presentation for Guyana. The idea at the time was that if you were getting into media, you were supposed to be political, and either for, or against the government and your stories must also be appropriately slanted. You were not expected to take the middle ground.”
Mrs. Corbin-Rival went on to say that like the Publisher, she too was never interested in Guyana’s political arena, so it was easy to help GEM position itself on a middle ground and to focus on the positives and the best of Guyana. This stance has occasionally drawn the wrath of some critics who accused GEM of being biased and on one side of the political spectrum.
Despite the critics, she added that they will continue to focus on the positive lifestyle trends of Guyanese because the readers are hungry for inspirational entertainment and a way to escape.
Under the leadership of Mr. Corbin, there was an editorial decision from the beginning to transcend race, politics, religion and class to focus on promoting the country. Today, those vows still remain very sacred, and will be used as the foundation on which they will propel themselves
into the next decade. The magazine continues to make a genuine effort to reach out and be an inclusive outlet for Guyanese of all walks of life. Their aim is to make everyone who encounters GEM feel that they are part of a unique experience.
Six times a year, this international magazine covers exciting social events and other thought-provoking lifestyle topics. As Guyana continues to develop, the magazine plans to continue evolving to reflect society’s ever changing trends. It is what people read to find out what or who is happening—it is what they have come to expect.
Since its early days, GEM has been on a campaign to expand its role as pioneers in high quality print media production. They plan to intensify their presence by expanding on social media, television and doing more in-depth coverage of individuals in the Diaspora who are making a significant impact in society. Their main aim in 2014 is to focus on volunteerism and giving back to Guyana by increasing their partnerships with non-government organizations.
When pressed to comment on the secret to the magazine’s success, especially in an industry where so many others have tried but failed, Mr. Corbin would only say: “GEM has and will always be about our beautiful country, our loyal readers, supporters, advertisers and friends and never about us and our egos.”
The Publisher and staff of GEM took the opportunity to extend genuine and heartfelt thanks to all its faithful friends, readers and clients for rejecting outdated business attitudes to give the magazine a fair chance and an equal opportunity to proudly celebrate Guyana in print, online and on television.
GEM is available at most newsstands in Guyana and via world-wide subscription. There are plans to host a number of activities including charitable donations to mark this momentous milestone for the magazine.
GEM, we wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors!