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

Twitter

Facebook

MySpace

AudioBoo

Flickr

LinkedIn

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