The DW Akademie has launched a new handbook to support startups media striving for viability. Titled: ‘From Start to Success’, the handbook aims to assist young media outlets struggling with the ct of global COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
The publication is meant to help cushion the effect of COVID 19 as many media organizations have lost traditional revenue streams and newsrooms have made major cuts to staff, and in some cases, media have had to close down entirely.
‘From Start to Success’ is a practical guide for digital media entrepreneurs, who have founded a media outlet and are seeking sustainability whilst staying true to quality journalism.
Written by media startups themselves, the handbook is unique and presents the learnings of 21 digital pioneers including the Philippines’ Rappler, Egypt’s MadaMasr and Animal Politico in Mexico. The pages are filled with tips and information these media startups from 18 different countries wished they had when they first started out and includes lessons learned, advice for successful growth and perhaps most importantly, how to sustain a startup’s success.
The handbook presents a three-step approach, namely: the start phase, growth phase and the media viability phase. It highlights an approach that focuses not only on revenue streams – an area that many startups put too much emphasis on – but aspects of the business such as human resources and audience engagement, which are crucial for achieving media viability.
Each of the chapters of the handbook explores one of the three steps in depth. The first chapter presents six startups in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) who share their experiences of turning an idea into a reality and as well as the knowledge they learned during the start phase focusing on revenue streams, audience engagement, collaboration and donors’ motives.
In chapter two, seven startups from the Asia region dive into structure and growth. There is a particular focus on diversifying revenue streams, staffing and internal organization, identifying a core mission and capitalizing on strengths.
Chapter three features eight startups from Latin American countries who impart their knowledge on sustaining the success they have achieved and rounds up the important lessons that digital media entrepreneurs should carry with them at all times. Community building, producing a quality product and involving the whole team in decision-making processes is key.
To download the handbook, please click https://www.dw.com/downloads/54885261/dw-akademie-media-viability-handbook-september-2020.pdf.
