The Business of Media: A Survival Guide (Kindle Single) [Kindle Edition]

Larry Dignan (Author)

Book Description

So you want to be a journalist. But do you know how to succeed? In an age of tremendous upheaval in publishing, writers and editors need to understand how their business works—and what it takes to survive in the media industry. This e-book is quick tour through all the things you never learned at journalism school. In it, you'll find ideas about business models and the key pillars that are being mixed an matched into new entrepreneurial ones online. Whether you're a journalism student who's looking for answers or a practicing editorial staffer who needs new ones, this guide gives you the business acumen you need to stay savvy and employed.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The business models of online content companies (news, information, blogs, and other media) are confounding to those on both sides of editorial/business divide. Thankfully, The Business of Media offers a comprehensive and utterly unambiguous explanation of how online content businesses--from small newsletters to The New York Times--generate revenue and contend with the demand forces at play in this rapidly changing industry. Author Larry Dignan, Editor in Chief of ZDNet and SmartPlanet, applies his 15 years of web-content experience to a range of topics with clarity and a ranting, intelligent indignation. He's angry that schools aren't teaching these subjects, and he wants you to avoid the pitfalls and see the opportunities on the road ahead. --Paul Diamond

About the Author

Larry Dignan is Editor in Chief of ZDNet and SmartPlanet as well as Editorial Director of ZDNet's sister site TechRepublic. He was most recently Executive Editor of News and Blogs at ZDNet. Prior to that he was executive news editor at eWeek and news editor at Baseline. He also served as the East Coast news editor and finance editor at CNET News.com. Larry has covered the technology and financial services industry since 1995, publishing articles in WallStreetWeek.com, Inter@ctive Week, The New York Times, and Financial Planning magazine. He's a graduate of the Columbia School of Journalism and the University of Delaware.

Product Details

• File Size: 129 KB
• Print Length: 31 pages
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B004I6D07C
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #264,827 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #64 in Kindle Store > Kindle Singles > Essays & Ideas

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Practical advice from someone who knows January 26, 2011

By Jeremy Aldrich

Amazon Verified Purchase

In this concise guide, written for aspiring or current journalists and editors, Larry Dignan outlines the key concepts for succeeding in the business of digital journalism. And he knows what he's talking about - Dignan is Editor in Chief of ZDNet. In 12 short chapters, he helps readers understand how content is best distributed online, and explores models for making money even in a competitive field. I liked that Dignan talked about what is working, what isn't, and what isn't quite clear yet. The style is concise and conversational, with lots of bullet points and even a few links for further information. It's almost like a series of emails from an experienced colleague who is explaining what he knows to help you out. After reading the book, I discovered that the ever-helpful author is even blogging on ZDNet about the experience of publishing through Amazon Kindle Singles.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A book worth reading March 11, 2011

By Matt_scherer

Amazon Verified Purchase

This is clearly a book that every journalist, content provider and public relations professional should read. If you work as a professional journalist, this little book provides a rare insight into the changes occuring in your industry. If you are a public relations professional (that's me most of the time), this book truly explains the change in the news industry. And, if you are a hybrid type, which some have described as me as a professional blogger, then you will get the book's value of how to manage your own content.

My only complaint about this format is that it's hard to purchase the book as a gift for your friends who are not into the ebook format. Still, if you work in the news industry, I would highly recommend this book for your reading list.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars If journalism profs aren't teaching this, what are they teaching? February 12, 2011

By Brent Finnegan

Amazon Verified Purchase

My BA is not in journalism, but I can't imagine paying for journalism classes in which new business models are not addressed.

Jeremy Aldrich (the other reviewer here) sent this Kindle single to me as a gift. It's a quick read (I finished it in a few hours) but it packs a lot of ideas and concepts. I highly recommend this for editors, reporters, and bloggers.