Yesterday, I was a Guest Speaker at the National Association of Women Journalists, Kwara State Chapter’s Monthly Journopreneur Seminar (July Edition).
Excerpt from my speech:
“My dear audience, the ever vibrant women of valor, honor and candour: I am here today to speak to us on why we need to gear up our games. Journalists need to know their skills, knowledge, passion and network to determine what kind media or non-media entrepreneurship endeavour to engage in.
Entrepreneurship requires knowing what problem to solve through the provision of needed services and products. You must also think of the possible revenue streams in terms of who will pay for your products and services and get necessary additional knowledge and training to succeed.
Who is an entrepreneur?
An entrepreneur is an individual who identifies a need in the marketplace and works to fulfill it by taking calculated risks and solving problems to set up new opportunities.
In preparation for becoming an entrepreneur, journalists need to pay more attention to the business side of media operations where they presently work. It’s not enough to know only about the editorial aspects of your job, nose for News is not enough, you should be interested in how the media evolution is shaping the world, managed, its marketing and sales approaches.
One of the ways journalists go broke is because most of them don’t understand the business of journalism. Know what you should do for free and what you should not to earn enough revenue.
Be innovative and creative considering the various options available to the customers. Explore collaboration and partnership to be more effective.
Some of the things I can recommend is media related entrepreneurship like launching publication/ broadcast organisations, content creation services, Publishing and Independent broadcast production. Others are the provision of editorial support services, media consultancy, public relations and Training.
At this age and time, journalists should also not hesitate to consider other non-media related services for which they have the necessary expertise or capital. You will need to step outside of your comfort zone to begin a new life of productivity and prosperity.
Entrepreneurs wake up in the morning in control of their decisions and the consequences. That control doesn’t guarantee success. But it creates a sort of excitement, satisfaction and motivation that the successful journalists found harder and harder to get from a traditional journalism job.
You have so much to offer to the world. You have the potential to set new trends, new prosperity, new version of what a woman Journalist should be. This avenue should not be only for talk and chats, it should be a place of networking, leveraging excellently and collaboration for success with colleagues and partners.
More than ever before, journalists have to master entrepreneurship skills considering the state of the industry, the economy, digital disruption, the need and opportunities to create new products and services.
You don’t start thinking of becoming an entrepreneur when you get sacked, you have to start thinking of what else you can do apart from your present assignment. Sooner or later you will have to move on.
What you need to know is that there will be life after the newsroom and you must be prepared for it. Entrepreneurs don’t lean back. When you are in control of your own destiny, why would you?
If managed well, building a business as a journalist could be more lucrative than employment. So, which are the best business ideas for Journalists?
We put together some of the best journalist business ideas you can start in today.
Here’s the full list:
1. Start an email newsletter business.
2. Start a freelance writing business.
3. Start a podcast.
4. Start a youtube channel.
5. Start a publishing, proofreading, editing business.
6. Become a corporate photographer.
7. Start a marketing people’s businesses online.
8. Start a niche blog.
9. Start a tour and picnic company.
10. Start an air freshener producer.
11. Start a career consulting business.
12. Start a content writing company.
13. Start a cocktail class business.
14. Become a business coach.
15. Become an author.
16. Start a personal development blog.
17. Start an event planning career.
18. Start a professional Masters of Ceremonies career.
19. Start a food blog.
20. Start an online library business.
21. Start an online learning platform.
22. Start a scholarship opportunity information or admissions career.
23. Start a Movie and Music Reviews.”
Prepared by:
Basheer Luqman Olarewaju, anipr
