Entrepreneurial Journalism

3 Credits · Level: Graduate

Most courses in the MPS Journalism program focus on the development of great content. This course focuses on the distribution and monetization of content. We will examine the core business concepts of the evolving media landscape to help students understand how to develop and evaluate entrepreneurial pursuits in journalism. Along the way, we will provide students with the ability to steer their careers toward opportunities with legitimate business potential. Case studies, readings, media surveillance, and guest lectures will help students take an entrepreneurial view of their careers, with particular emphasis on how to build an audience, distribute content, and monetize with smart business models. Journalists who understand these issues will be better positioned to make informed career decisions and to discern opportunities in a range of media-related industries-­whether they choose to pursue an entrepreneurial venture or not. The coursework involves abroad examination of issues affecting media careers, as well as a specific focus on a subject area of the student’s choosing. Students will learn - through reading, analysis, and experimentation – how to drive their own success or maximize their opportunities within a larger media company. The final project will consist of a detailed competitive analysis and formal business plan outlining audience, content, and monetization strategies (the target can be a new website or refining an existing one).