Post on 19-May-2015
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By Julian Matthews,Trinetizen Media
www.trinetizen.com
Aug 11, 2010
Journalism Entrepreneurship
Who am I?
Media trainer
Stringer
Cadet journalist
Fulltime journalist
Undergraduate
Drop out
JournalistTravel writer
Photographer
Senior features writer
Freelance travel writer
Copywriter
Speech writer
Children’s story writer
Web designer
Wedding photographer
Corporate brochure writer
Table-top book editor
Technology Journalist
Director
Husband
Father of two children
Chauffeur
Office boy
Take out the garbage
Editor
Video link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYecfV3ubP8
In 1984, a young, ambitious, nerd wanted to change the world
He had some competition…
“Which would you do?”
“Which would you do?”
They did change the world
Which would you do?Which would you do ~ now?
In 1984, another young, ambitious, nerd joined the workforce
He, too, wanted to change the world
But all he changed was ….
…himself
Questions that may (or may not) be answered today
1. What is a journalism entrepreneur?
2. What skills & experience do I need to start and run my own media business?
3. What are the challenges and opportunities of being my own boss?
The story of how a bicycle led me to becoming a journalist
Seven 19-yr-olds decide to travel
Seven 19-yr-olds decide to travel
Seven 19-yr-olds decide to travel
What shall we travel in?
Three in NST
Life of a stringer
The life series
1st assignment: The Star
1st lesson in journalism
What about the blisters on Kit Siang’s feet?
Who the f*** cares about the blisters on Kit Siang’s feet !?!
Becoming a travel magazine writer
1.Cultural immersion2.Learnt photography,
shooting slides3.Being independent
and minding budgets
4.Compiling for Visit Malaysia Year book
5.Writing for advertising mag, lifestyle stories
Best travel writer?
First big break• Malaysian correspondent to
1st English trade magazine of Nikkei Business Publication
• US$0.25/word X 1000 words News story
• Later: Pay hike to US$0.40/word
• Would get US$0.20/word if story made it in Japanese edition of NEA
• 2000-word Feature/year• 1000-word Profile/year• AsiaBizTech.com
500-words/week
Then came the Internet….
US Robotics Sportster 14.4Kbps Fax/Modem
Dial-up sound: http://www.freesound.org/samplesViewSingle.php?id=16475
Opened my world to global stories
More examples: http://www.trinetizen.com/archive/
Freelance Inc.
1. Biggest Japanese trade magazine publisher
2. Newsbytes: Owned by Washington Post-Newsweek Interactive
3. Leading online tech publisher
Things you may need to make it
1. Experience: Minimum 18 months – 3 years in a media organisation
2. Skills: Writing, editing, photography, digital media production, video, web design
3. Published work online – your own website or use Blogger or Wordpress or LinkedIn
4. Contacts: Meet editors, reporters, other freelancers f2f on a regular basis
5. Self-discipline
Never do only one thing• Freelance feature writing
• Photographer
• Wrote press releases
• Wrote advertorials
• Designed and wrote corporate brochures
• Wrote annual reports
• Advertising copy
• Wrote a children’s story for booklet series
• Edited table-top book
• UNTIL YOU FIND YOUR NICHE
Don’t limit yourself
• “I only write feature stories for lifestyle magazines”
• Try other forms of writing:– Business and technology– Sports– Reviews: Books, movies, fashion, products– Scripts for radio, plays or documentaries– Short fiction– Children stories– Corporate writing: advertorials, case studies
• UNTIL YOU FIND YOUR NICHE!
Create an online portfolio
YouTube
RSS
MySpace
AudioBoo
Flickr
Blog or dotcom:1.Bio/Resume2.Published work3.Contact
Tripod: Used free space
http://departuremaxim.blogspot.com
Example of Taylor’s Graduate updating his portfolio online
http://imaginarylands.wordpress.com
Example of a journalist updating her portfolio online
Build the online portfolio today!
• Use Blogger or Wordpress or Linked In or your own domain - separate portfolio on your writing, photography, videos.
• Clickable, printable, PDF resume
• Take a professional photograph of yourself, please. No abstract pics or LOLcatz as your thumbnail.
• Everything you say on your blog, Facebook, Twitter can and will be used against you.
Improve your software skills
• Photo editing
• Audio editing
• Video editing
• Web design
• Blogging
• Online forums, community management
• Database programming
• Multimedia production
Do the paperwork• Sole proprietor or Sdn Bhd: Set up a
company at R.O.C
• Always bill clients promptly: Find sample invoices online
• Contract: Writing contract
• Legal: If you use copyrighted material obtain permission. If you use another freelancer, prepare a contract
• EPF & Insurance: Cover yourself
• Taxes: Get an accountant cum corp secretary cum tax consultant
Self-discipline: Office vs home
Your desk Boss’ desk
Distance to boss’ desk Productivity
Discipline: Home office
Your desk Your bed
Productivity Distance to bed
Monthly salary of journalist position advertised in Jobstreet
Position Level Minimum Average Maximum
Senior Executive RM2500 RM3250 RM3700
Junior Executive RM1800 RM2300 RM2760
Fresh / Entry Level RM1500 RM1800 RM2225
Case study: Aela Callan
Last words: Show up
Follow up
If you screw up (and you will screw up) say sorry, take your lumps
and grow up already!
Julian Matthewse: julian@trinetizen.comw: trinetizen.comf: facebook.com/trinetizenb: blog.trinetizen.comt: twitter.com/trinetizenm: +60-12-915-9528