Masterclass 12: How to build your own job

Traditionally, journalists worked on publications owned by others.

Today, that’s not always the case.

Increasingly, journalists are creating their own publications; online, in print or both.

They are becoming entrepreneurs, and in the process they are building their own jobs.

They are often putting together portfolio careers, in which they do some work for others, some for themselves.

They might combine subbing on a magazine with running their own hyperlocal or other specialist website, some PR work and maybe some training for others in a skill that’s in demand – such as writing for the web, or website building. 

This masterclass is about entrepreneurialism, about building your own job.

Some journalism schools teach entrepreneurialism, but not many. We’ll look at some of those that do, and what we can learn from their approaches.

What if you want to create your own print or web publication?

Is it possible?

Can you make a living at it?

How do you go about it?

We’ll look at three businesses that might help you do it.

We’ll also look at the practicalities of setting up a business.

At how to turn an idea for a product or service into a fully realised, researched and tested business plan.

We’ll hear from the pioneering entrepreneurial journalist Adam Westbrook, and look at others who have successfully created their own journalism businesses – by rescuing papers, starting magazines, and generally learning how to navigate the modern media landscape.

Sections in the masterclass

Links will go live over the coming week

12a An introduction and overview of entrepreneurialism, with Adam Westbrook. Find out more...

12b What is being taught about entrepreneurialism on journalism courses Find out more...

12c Creating a Business 1: An intereactive learning programme from Yoodoo Find out more...

12d Creating a Business 2: Three organisations that might help you build a job in hyperlocal journalism Find out more...

12e Spotlight on journalist entrepreneurs: They built their own jobs with websites, blogs and through rescuing a local paper Find out more...

12f Become a magazine publisher Find out more...