Six things newsrooms can learn from entrepreneurs

Last fall, New York City taxi drivers sued Uber for stealing their livelihoods.

Yellow cab owners say they alone have the right to provide paid transportation from one place to another. They claim Uber has broken that rule and put taxi owners, drivers and renters out of business.

Illustration photo. (Source: editorandpublisher.com)

What if reporters, editors, photographers, newsroom executives, and advertising staff could sue the “Internet” for stealing their jobs?

The reality is that no such measures exist for journalists and those who work in the journalism profession.

There are many parallels between the “Uber vs. Taxi” debate and the “Traditional Newspaper vs. Online Newspaper” debate. Taxi companies think they own the market. But anyone with any sense of logic knows that the idea of ​​standing on a city corner and hoping for a cab to pass by is an outdated business model. Uber and Lyft have adapted to the need for transportation with the help of mobile phones.

And in similar ways, journalists wasted much of the 90s not understanding how the web and mobile devices would fundamentally upend their advertising and news models.

With no one to sue, the press has had to adapt. Many newspaper businesses in America think their work is protected by the First Amendment.

But in reality that law only protects certain aspects of journalism, and does nothing to protect the profits of newspapers.

Meanwhile, entrepreneurs never let themselves be fooled into thinking that their businesses are protected by any government regulations.

Instead, newspaper companies can learn a lot from the way these entrepreneurs do business if they want to survive.

Here are six things newspapers can learn from the business world (according to Editor and Publisher).

1. Profit is not a word to avoid

The line between newsrooms and the rest of the business world has begun to narrow. The jokes about going “dark” (advertising) need to stop. The negative silos between departments within the newsroom need to be eliminated. Journalists today must be businesspeople, too.

2. Successful businesses give back to the community.

The world of tireless journalists is admirable. But sometimes the best moments in journalism come when a newspaper gives back to the community, through awards or scholarships. These actions are recognized by the community.

3. Journalists aren't the only ones who want to save the world.

People who work in nonprofits are dedicated and — believe it or not — not paid as much as journalists.

“Consciousness” is very important in the process of changing the business operations of newspapers.

4. Owning a business is much harder than having a salaried or hourly position.

You pay for the benefits you receive. You fix the printer when it breaks. You chase down people who owe you money. Being a journalist or a publisher is hard work, but it all pales in comparison to the time and effort you put into running a business.

We need to act more like we own the newspaper and not just act like we are employees of the newspaper. That kind of dedication is needed in this day and age.

5. There's a reason why many business owners are conservative.

They are fed up with government red tape. When they write their quarterly tax checks, they start wondering what they will do with their money. Few journalists act as watchdogs for government spending, but if you want the public's loyalty, you have to be above the scoundrels.

6. The best companies respond quickly to changes in the market.

Many companies have gotten better at anticipating what their customers want. Newspapers have suffered for years from a “good enough” approach to business rather than thinking about and anticipating what their customers will want.

Is it time to start brainstorming “What to do next” rather than just copying what already exists?

According to Viet namplus