{"id":16776,"date":"2022-08-10T09:13:19","date_gmt":"2022-08-10T07:13:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/journalift.org\/?p=16776"},"modified":"2022-08-10T10:12:43","modified_gmt":"2022-08-10T08:12:43","slug":"lessons-learned-from-delivering-business-support-to-media-outlets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/journalift.org\/lessons-learned-from-delivering-business-support-to-media-outlets\/","title":{"rendered":"Lessons learned from delivering business support to media outlets"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

For almost two years, I had the opportunity to work with the media and mentors through the Media for All project. Initially, I developed an online course<\/a> that dealt with the development of  business model for the media<\/a>, and then I worked as a mentor with several media. I learned a lot during this process and had the opportunity to take a deeper look at the challenges the media is facing. This text is my attempt to articulate and document in written format some of the lessons learned and observations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course – disclaimer <\/em>at the beginning: the views expressed in this text are my own, and do not represent the official views of the Media for All project, or the donors\/implementers of the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are interested (and you hate to google) in details about me – my experience is mainly in the domain of business and creation (and monetization) of niche media, as well as in the domain of managing civil society organizations. Throughout my career, I have been a journalist, founder of companies and civil society organizations, a business mentor, an innovation consultant…and probably several other roles that have shaped my skills and mindset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the Media for All project, I also created an online course (Business models and monetization models for media<\/a>) and tried to help the media on the way to product creation and monetization.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I believe that all organizations (businesses and civil society) must change and adapt to the development of the local and global environment. If they do not evolve and adapt – they disappear or become irrelevant. This is also how I look at the media – which are generally inert to changes in the environment and tend to persist in dealing with the media business in a traditional way, which is not suitable for the digital age. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The focus of the media is often exclusively on creating content and servicing its readers – which is the essence of the media, but the reality both locally and globally has changed in such a way that this is no longer enough.<\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Because of these changes, all programs that support media to develop (or improve) business models and to test them, are extremely important. They are points on the path that leads the media to self-sustainability and connecting the real needs of their readers with what they can provide. In order to maybe make some subsequent programs to be even better and take the media further on this path, I tried to record some of the things that I classified as good and bad. As much for donors and implementers, even more for those who have to keep changing in adaptation – the media.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Program<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Program structure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

First of all, the structure of the program itself. Project idea to support media outlets to develop new business models in order to secure long term sustainability is great, but there are some conceptual issues with it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, media outlets have applied with their business idea, which couldn’t be significantly modified during the business plan creation phase. Additionally, business ideas need to be validated before significant resources are invested in developing it.<\/strong> This programme was created in a way which does not enable the true process of business idea testing – it is not realistic that a media outlet tests the idea and \u201cdiscovers\u201d that it is not feasible, as it would mean that the media outlet will not get funds secured by the project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This situation should be somehow changed in the future instances of this or similar business support programmes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Media outlets should go through the idea validation phase, but they should not be afraid to invalidate their idea – the opportunity to change the idea should be given by the donors. This also means that during the initial phase of the programme (before business plans are approved), there should be enough time (minimum one month) to test the business idea in the field and conduct \u201cMom test\u201d (or similar) methodology for validating business ideas. <\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Media outlets should be able to change their business plan (and the idea to a certain extent) to reflect learnings from this activity. Also, media outlets should be encouraged to admit if they fail to validate the need for their business idea, but this should not bar media outlets from getting the funds – it would require them to evolve their initial idea, or quickly come up with another one. This part is tricky, and some sort of external supervision would be required for media outlets in order to objectively track if an idea was validated or not.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Based on my experience, media outlets are very likely not to be honest if they discover that there are issues with their business idea, as they see that as a threat to them getting access to funds. This attitude is one of the main blockers of developing business mindset in media outlets, as no business person would waste time and money in developing idea which has proven to have no chance of success; while majority of media outlets look for whatever source of income which can cover their operational costs – even if it is a dead-end business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"03<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Media outlets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The programme was overwhelming for media outlets<\/strong> – they were offered a lot of opportunities, but the majority of media outlets struggled to keep up with the pace and to utilize every type of offered support. Additionally, media outlets were concerned that if they miss an opportunity, it will be noted by donors and they could potentially be excluded from some future activities and projects. This made media outlets keen to accept new opportunities, even if they were not 100% match for them and they don’t really have capacity to handle those additional activities.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Avoiding these kinds of situations should be done in the future, and some key activities which could improve this situation are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n