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From Student Journalists to News Entrepreneurs: A Case Study of Technically Media

From Student Journalists to News Entrepreneurs: A Case Study of Technically Media. International Symposium on Online Journalism Austin, TX – April 20, 2012 Mark Berkey-Gerard Assistant Professor, Rowan University Twitter: @ mabege. Technically Media

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From Student Journalists to News Entrepreneurs: A Case Study of Technically Media

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  1. From Student Journalists to News Entrepreneurs: A Case Study of Technically Media International Symposium on Online Journalism Austin, TX – April 20, 2012 Mark Berkey-Gerard Assistant Professor, Rowan University Twitter: @mabege

  2. Technically Media Founded in 2009 by three Temple U. grads Media consultancy for business, news and nonprofits Publishes Technically Philly, a regional technology blog in Philadelphia Sean Blanda, Brian James Kirk, and Christopher Wink. Photo by Colin Lenton

  3. Technology blog covering local: • startups • venture capital • social media/web development • digital access • science, tech, engineering and math education • technology-related local government policy

  4. Readers • 25,000 a month • Employed in research, science, media, marketing, IT • 71% age 20-39 • 63% earn $50K+ annually • 47% read daily

  5. Technically Media: Provides “editorial strategy” for businesses, nonprofits and news organizations Identifies audience conversions

  6. National Constitution Center • Online publication where legal scholars, historians and staff write about constitutional issues • Extend museum programming to digital platform • Adoptnewsroom ethos and practices

  7. Philly Tech Week April 23-28 - 65 tech events, 4,000 participants

  8. News Coverage Advocacy Tools

  9. Technically Media Revenue

  10. Future: Launch of Technically Baltimore (Summer 2012) Membership model Staff transitions

  11. Why Study Technically Media? • “Prototype plucked from an entrepreneurial journalism textbook” • Profitable without outside investment • Bridge the gap between research and classroom • Evidence of entrepreneurial capacities

  12. Entrepreneurial Capacities (Gibb) Opportunity seeking Initiative taking Ownership of a development Commitment to see things through Personal locus of control Intuitive decision making Networking capacity Strategic thinking Negotiation capacity Selling/persuasive capacity Achievement orientation Incremental risk taking

  13. RQ1: Knowledge and skills? • Newsroom • Publishing • Consulting • Grants • Event Planning • Small Business

  14. RQ2: Acquire knowledge and skills? • Implementation of existing ideas • Student publication, internships, entry-level jobs • Reporting as a pathway to business knowledge • Creating forums for sharing knowledge (BarCamp News Innovation)

  15. RQ3: Key entrepreneurial capacities? • Initial launch • Beyond advertising • Journalistic values as a product • Event funded online news publication • Expanding to additional markets

  16. RQ4: Implications for J education? • Training for jobs that do not exist • Opportunities to build publications and tools • Testing products • Entrepreneurial projects as gateway to traditional employment

  17. Conclusions • 1. Entrepreneurial by necessity • 2. Limits of skill-based education • 3. Build on existing strengths of journalism programs • 4. Accelerator vs. Venture Capital approach • 5. Create forums for sharing knowledge and information

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