The Jamaica Information Service has experienced name changes and refocusing of its mandate since its origin in the Information Unit established by the old Colonial Secretariat, under the direction of the Director of Education and Chief Information Officer. In 1956, the Government Public Relations Office (GPRO) was established. By 1959, the GPRO mounted publicity campaigns using all communications media – press, radio and film.

In 1963 the GPRO was renamed the Jamaica Information Service. The name of the organisation was changed to the Agency for Public Information in the 1970s and reverted to Jamaica Information Service after October 1980.

In 1984 the print news and photography functions of the JIS were turned over to a new National Press Agency, JAMPRESS, a separate limited liability company, headed then by an Editor-in –Chief.

As part of the Public Sector Modernisation Programme JIS and JAMPRESS were merged in 2001 to become an Executive Agency of Government.

As an Executive Agency, the JIS is mandated to utilise some of its time and resources to provide core government information services across all Ministries and Agencies at no charge. In addition, the Agency is required to earn from offering non-core information and communication services at a fee to Government and non-governmental institutions, to raise revenues to finance its day-to-day operations.

The Jamaica Information Service is headed by a Chief Executive Officer (CEO), appointed by the Governor-General on the advice of the Public Service Commission.

The CEO is responsible for the Agency's overall financial and operational performance, the recruitment and management of the Agency’s human resources.