Last post

So this is my very last post for Entrepreneurial Journalism. The semester flew and I have been inspired by each and every guest lecturer and, of course, by Sandy as well. I can appreciate the heart that goes into entrepreneurial endeavors of any kind. More than anything, I learned that journalism as a field is in the midst of great change. There is so much room to create and discover new facets of the field that we all love. It comes down to delivering the news and informing the world of accurate, relevant information. There are an endless number of ideas that simply require someone with the drive and means to put them into action. Entrepreneurial Journalism as a whole has instilled in me the realization that starting my own business is completely possible.

Viewership

Something I have yet to think about during the writing of my business plan is adjustment. I have been so set in my original plan that failing and having to re-plan has not yet been considered. I wonder how long a startup should be given before any changes are made. I guess I’m not sure if anyone has ever touched upon how long it takes to actually get going. I’ve wondered what the best way to get the word out about See The News would be. Advertising on other sites? Word of mouth? These are more details that need to be worked out. Marketing strategies are key and as a journalist, I don’t know much about them. Considering, I think it would be beneficial to hire someone with this expertise to my team. Though southern New Hampshire seems like a small niche to focus on, there are already established publications in the area that readers have been loyal to for years. One of the greatest challenges will be getting eyes on the site. 

Finances

While adding the financials to my business plan, I got a grasp on how much money is really needed from investors. From laptops, to software, cameras and lenses, photography is a generally expensive trade. It could be beneficial to stick with one brand of equipment and offer them a share of the company in assurance that photojournalists will be kept up to date with the newest equipment. Cameras are constantly being reinvented and viewers should be provided with the clearest images possible at all times. Buying new cameras every year, especially with corresponding lenses, tripods, and shades can be extremely pricy. Another contributor of funds would be needed for laptops, software, and any other costs that would not be too recurring. The main lesson is that before writing down what you need to start and stay in business, it takes making organized lists and separating supplies out. 

Preserving print journalism

In my See The News business concept, I am excited about the idea of an end of the year print publication. It has become commonly known that print journalism has not been so successful since the economy fell years ago. I think that instead of print publications becoming nothing but history, it could become more renowned if it became a rare occurrence. For example, See The News will deliver news in an online platform, but the yearly book will be a special treat that hopefully viewers will enjoy and look forward to. Print journalism has been such a staple part of the profession for around a hundred years now and it should not just fizzle out. More publications should evolve and include print versions in their business plans for readership to appreciate on more special occasions. 

Business plan feedback idea

I look forward to reading over some business plans in class. I am happy with how my writing and formatting came out, but design is an area where I think I could use some feedback on. I was going for simplicity but I want to assure that my plan is not dull. I think it would be beneficial to pass our business plans around the classroom and have everyone make notes on them before handing in a final copy during the last class next week. I know that I would benefit and be inspired by viewing some of my classmates work. In regard to the content, I read over my own plan so many times that I could have very easily missed a spelling error or misused punctuation. It would help to see what questions anyone had about my idea or if there are any gaps that need to be filled. I think feedback is key.

Finding inspiration

It seems appropriate to dedicate a post to finding inspiration when it’s coming down to the end of the semester and story/blog ideas are scarce. Last week my digital journalism class ventured into Boston for the day. I learned that sometimes a change in scenery can make all the difference in the world. Of course there is always news happening here in the seacoast region, but getting to Boston inspired me as a writer and a photographer. What I came back with was a memory card and notebook full of images and descriptions of the day. Two classmates and I stuck together and made our way from North Station all the way to the Boston Commons and an Emerson Café. We had story ideas in our head before hitting the city that we intended to cover, but what we found was that we were inspired by several encounters on our walk across the city on that rainy Friday. I ended up talking to a protestor outside of Quincy Market who kept getting inched further and further away from the premises by Boston Police. Later, I ran into a Berklee student who was handing out free copies of his music and collecting money for a charity. The lessons in writing and reporting digitally were assumed, but what I also learned is that exploring new places comes with a sense of adventure and inspiration.