If you asked me whether or not I have the skills to become a successful entrepreneur, my answer at the beginning of the semester would have been simple: “Absolutely not!” If you asked me that same question now after spending 16 weeks in JRN 450, my answer would be…. “Maybe.” My answer didn’t miraculously change… Continue reading Never stop asking “Why?”
When we see a successful company in the market or interact with a particular brand as a consumer, we rarely think about all of the failures, sacrifices and persistence that it took to get there. After exploring a few of NPR’s “How I Built This” episodes, I not only have deeper admiration for startups and… Continue reading Behind-the-scenes of an entrepreneur’s hustle
The more I learn in JRN 450, the more I see a connection between journalism and entrepreneurship. Curiosity is the foundation of identifying problems and developing startups that act as solutions, and building a personal connection through storytelling is key to nailing your pitch. Chris Anderson, curator of TED, builds upon this concept of what… Continue reading The power of an idea
According to this week’s Entrepreneur article, “Your brand is your promise to your customer.” Everything from packaging, to the logo and even the distribution channels impact your brand and the message or product you’re trying to sell to customers. Although we’ve worked on branding this entire semester in JRN 450, it was very insightful to… Continue reading The importance of building an authentic brand
Ricky Brandt, content strategist/account executive with Social@Ogilvy in Chicago, phrases it best in his LinkedIn profile: He’s passionate about “helping clients navigate the world of digital.” Brandt started as a social intern with Ogilvy in June 2014 and now leads social media efforts for global clients. He’s currently working with clients in the consumer packaged goods… Continue reading Ricky Brandt’s passion for the digital world
“The optimism of Detroit is so strong.” I think these seven words said by Gwen Jimmere from Naturalicious sum up the main theme of our Detroit Startup Day. This optimism is something that I recognized in each individual that we met with. Collectively, it allows entrepreneurs to thrive in the city, which in turn, fuels… Continue reading Detroit Startup Day: Entrepreneurial spirits working toward the greater good
When Abigail Bassett isn’t shooting standups, ghost writing blogs or traveling to cover cars, technology, real estate and luxury, she’s constantly searching for her next story. She has the unique opportunity of working anywhere in the world and scheduling her own hours, which helps her find balance in this constant hustle. Being persistent, acting on… Continue reading Life as a freelancer requires passion and grit
Even before the digital transition began in the media, publishers have always faced the pressures of generating enough revenue to thrive and stay competitive. Legacy publications are navigating new approaches as they diversify content and new digital media startups must be prepared with various revenue options when entering the market. While the media’s goal is… Continue reading Publishers face challenging future as digital audiences diversify
What’s the one thing that all successful media organizations have in common? They rely on their value propositions to stay on target and guide future innovations and improvements. By constantly reassessing the “promises” or value being delivered to their target audience, they can remain relevant and further strengthen the niche they have created. From Christian… Continue reading Let your value proposition be your guide
According to this week’s article, “A Roadmap for Digital Media Startups: The New Business Models for News Toolkit,” identifying your target audience begins with creating stories about your potential users. It’s the basic lesson we’ve learned in any communication or PR class: Use both demographic and psychographic information to build these various personas that will help… Continue reading Understanding your target audience: The key to long-term, strategic success
Spartans Innovate 