Last week, John Hill, Spartan alumni with a B.A. in journalism, came to speak to our media entrepreneurship course. I think the funniest criticism I receive these days is a criticism to my major. “Journalism? How are you going to make any money? You know print is dying? It’s not the same as it used… Continue reading A Journalism Degree: Oh, The Places You’ll Go!
This week we had two guest speakers: John Hill, an MSU graduate who didn’t end up in journalism, exactly; and Julianne Pepitone, a journalist who went from working at CNNMoney, to NBC, to being her own boss as a very entrepreneurial freelancer. I know that I don’t want to end up working in journalism, so… Continue reading First Hand: Talking to entrepreneurial journalists
John Hill has to be one of my favorite guest speakers I’ve had at Michigan State. This program does a great job of bringing back alumni to speak to our classes, but John Hill was something more. He was incredible to listen to. Not only was his content interesting and valuable, but just the way… Continue reading John Hill: Top 5 guest speaker
I ‘ve really wanted some professional insight and now I have it. Of course, our professors at MSU give us endless useful information, most having been or currently being in the journalism industry themselves. But I always appreciate fresh perspectives. We had two guest speakers last week in class, both of whom shed a lot… Continue reading Freelancing is a whole new world
It seems like 2018 and 2019 has been marked with huge media company sales and mergers. Just a few weeks ago, we were all worried about Digital First’s offer to Gannett, and we’re still hearing about shifting staff sizes in Buzzfeed, McClatchy, Vice and more. But other areas of media are just beginning to boom.… Continue reading Selling and determining the worth of media
Through the past blogs I have expressed some of my views on how people start media companies from the idealization phase to vision. Well, now it’s time to figure out how companies make money and, thankfully for me, this is something I’ve had some experience with before. Other then being a journalism student, I am… Continue reading You have a company, now find the price
When Alex Blumberg started Gimlet Media, he obviously thought that he had a good idea that could be successful, but I don’t think there is any way that he could’ve imagined that just five years after starting his start-up he would be selling it to media giant Spotify for $230 million. Of course the value… Continue reading Gimlet Media: One Man Start-Up to $230 Million Sale
What does it mean for podcasts?
Last week I had written a piece on Gimlet and how co-founders Alex Blumberg and Matt Lieber had to go through hell and back to get the company on it’s feet. Gimlet, a network of podcasts focusing on narrative journalism and storytelling, now belongs to Spotify. Alex and Matt sold the company for 230 million… Continue reading Media is Still Profitable
When it comes to print journalism, reputation means everything. With local news disappearing, and magazine or newspaper staff declining, the big names may be the lone survivors of the industry. How does a major name like Fortune Magazine, for example, stay alive during this deterioration of magazines? For starters, they’ve used their reputation in the… Continue reading Navigating the Stormy Seas of Media
Spartans Innovate 