May 16 - May 21, 2009
Annenberg School for Communication, University of Southern California
In partnership with USC Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, the USC Annenberg School for Communication, the Center for Communication Leadership and the Online Journalism Review
About | Agenda | Speakers | Fellows | Resources | Announcement of Fellows | Snap Shot Interviews
About the Seminar
The Knight Digital Media Center (in partnership with the USC Greif Center for Entrepreneurial Studies, the USC Annenberg School for Communication, the Center for Communication Leadership and the Online Journalism Review) held a special News Entrepreneur Boot Camp from May 16-21, 2009, in Los Angeles. This expenses-paid intense one-week boot camp was designed for 12 competitively selected digital entrepreneurs with great ideas for community news and information initiatives in the public interest. Topics covered included::
- Identifying the best business model for sustained success.
- Developing a sustainable business plan.
- Marketing and audience development.
- Content production and management models.
- Legal and tax issues.
- Identifying capitalization sources.
- Developing and implementing revenue and advertising strategies.
- Successful social networking models.
- Selecting and implementing technical platforms.
- Understanding and using metrics.
Traditional news organizations are floundering as business models collapse and audiences are increasingly turning to alternative news and information sources. This special boot camp was designed for digital journalists and others who are passionate about new ideas for serving the information and news needs of their communities but who lack the grounding in business and startup skills. Expert faculty from both academia and the private sector provided intense instruction, coaching and mentoring on developing marketable business plans for providing news and information in the public interest.
Agenda
May 16, 2009, 12:30 PM - 1:45 PM
Opening Lunch – From Old Media to New
Welcome and panel discussion
Presentation by:
- Geneva Overholser, Director, School of Journalism, USC Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism
May 16, 2009, 2:00 PM - 3:15 PM
Introduction of Camp Participants and Their Areas of Interest
Presentation by:
- Vikki Porter, director, Knight Digital Media Center, USC Annenberg School for Communication
May 16, 2009, 3:30 PM - 4:45 PM
Introduction of Outcomes and Expectations for the Week
Presentation by:
- Tom Omalia, Orfalea Director's Chair in Entrepreneurship and Professor of Clinical Entrepreneurship, USC Marshall School of Business
- Robert Niles, Online Journalism Review and Digital Pioneer
Full Agenda
Fellows
Ericka Boston
senior editor of Sister 2 Sister magazine
Chad Capellman
Founder of Capellman.com
Tim Collie
former South Florida Sun-Sentinel senior writer
Celeste Fraser Delgado
editor of Performancejournalism.com
Rita Hibbard
direct editor of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer's investigative team
Full Fellow List