Planting Seeds for a New Era of Entrepreneurial Journalism
By: Jeremy Caplan
Tags: Entrepreneurship, Journalism Education, Journalism, Entrepreneurship Training, Journalism Innovation

Planting Seeds for a New Era of Entrepreneurial Journalism

Why we’re launching a new online program to empower independent journalists to become “armies of one.”

Aug 25 Update: We have announced our first cohort and our application is live! We’ve also updated our start date to begin our pilot in October, rather than in January. Find out more about the program on our new site.

Over the last few years, it’s become increasingly clear that many legacy news organizations will not survive. The arrival of a global pandemic has further decimated the industry, leaving thousands of journalists laid off, furloughed or with substantially lower pay.

At the same time, many journalists are realizing they not only can — but want — to operate independently. They display a hunger for turning passion, expertise and craft into paying work, moving beyond the legacy employer and going it alone. Alongside the emergence of what some are dubbing the “passion economy,” new tools and platforms have emerged to aid these “armies of one.”

Niche creators are independently launching podcasts, starting newsletters, and creating YouTube channels. They’re developing event series, building Patreon-funded communities and messaging people with Subtext. Some are debuting local, niche or industry publications to fill the news desert gap and to revitalize civic engagement.

To serve this emerging community of creators, in October of 2020 the Newmark J-School will launch a new, 100-day certificate program, which will be exclusively online. Our goal is to provide a springboard for niche creators and their emergent micro ventures. The program will be led by experienced innovators. These experts in marketing, revenue and sustainability will help journalism entrepreneurs thrive in the media ecosystem.

Entrepreneurial journalism fellows trade feedback on their projects. Photo ©Skyler Reid/skyreid.com

Journalists becoming fearless armies of one are focused more on filling news gaps than on building Silicon Valley-style high-margin ventures. They don’t need venture capital — no 10x returns await. They do need to make a decent living.

Niche creators’ needs vary by stage, geography, focus area, media type and various other factors. But they share common objectives and challenges. Some need guidance on marketing and engagement tactics to reach a dispersed community. Others need a hand figuring out how to make enough to survive serving a small locality.

We see an opportunity to support and serve this emerging generation of independents by helping them with the complex process of carving out a sustainable niche. Many are sharing the stories of underrepresented or underserved communities. This diverse group of creators can reshape the face of journalism entrepreneurship. They’re challenging assumptions of what media entrepreneurs look like and what impact means for niche creators.

To serve them we’re designing a program tailored to their nimble and inventive thinking:

A fully-remote experience

Participants can come from New York City or anywhere else. Geography should not be an obstacle to learning.

Serving individuals juggling multiple roles

For those already carving out an independent career path, the program will expand the impact of their work. We welcome a diverse group, including those with caretaker responsibilities or other personal or professional commitments.

Guidance and coaching from diverse practitioners

The program is grounded in hard-earned lessons from experienced practitioners — those who have launched their own local sites, newsletters, podcasts, and membership campaigns. It’s not about abstract theory, but real-world, actionable insights.

Walk away with new skills, new ideas, and a new network

After spending 100 days in our program, participants will emerge with new project momentum and a head start toward sustainability. They’ll start their next chapter with a stronger network of colleagues, mentors and collaborators.