Potential customer feedback

Kymus Ginwala, 84, male, Director at Ginwala Associates 

"I'm a sucker for anything entrepreneurial and for innovation so you have me hooked."

Mr. Ginwala came to the US from India to get an engineering degree from MIT and ultimately remained in the US. He likes the idea of having a resource for Asian residents, but thinks one of the first things to be done is to identify the customer base; how big is it and how diverse in terms of language and skills. "Define your customers and talk to them to assess their needs and thinking."

Another idea he thinks would be beneficial is to have a section focused on helping Asian seniors understand the NH environment better. "The young children get acclimated quickly, but the elders get left behind. So health is an issue and information on this can be very useful."

He suggested that one of the first steps should be to have discussions with peers at UNH to get a better understanding of culture and adapting culture to a new setting. He likes the 'Why NH' idea because it "broadens the local population's view of immigration."

 He also had some ideas for content including:

• Profile a restaurant and business regularly to help them attract business but also to encourage them to advertise.
• Profile non-Asian businesses that want to attract the Asian customer.
• Have a section on Asian food with help for a recipe from the appropriate restaurant or business which attracts people who like to cook as well as places to buy the ingredients. (This would be for local NH residents but helps the Asian restaurant and encourages advertising)
• The NH agencies which help immigrants settle in as well as the non-profits could be important links.

"The website will be an evolving issue with some successes and some failures the latter being important to the progress and development of the eventual site."

 

Emily Siel, 16, female, high school student 

"If it was out there, I would definitely read it."

Ms. Siel is a high school junior who has lived in New Hampshire her whole life. She's never been to Asia, but has learned about it through the experiences of others. She thinks that the website would be interesting to read and something new, since she's not aware of anything else like it in the region. She doesn't think she would ever pay a subscription because "this topic is not in my usual area of interest," but would read it if it were available to the public for free. She was most interested in the 'Why NH?' series because it would be a cool way to hear a story she'd otherwise never have heard.

Alicia Edwards, 21, female, business student

"I think this is an extremely well crafted idea and you've thought of all of the appropriate avenues to cover."

Ms. Edwards is studying business at UNH and has also taken Mandarin language and Chinese culture classes. She thinks that the "ideas and articles are on point and interesting" and that the website would be a great source of information and entertainment. "I think it's similar to a town website (in a good way) but not something I would pay for." She believes that due to "the way the internet is, the information would be somewhere else and easy to go to find it."

However, something she would pay for and thinks would act as a way to inform and involve the community is to host an event similar to UNH's U-Day. She suggested a $10 admission fee to go to an event that is basically an all-out culture festival. Restaurants, clubs, stores, could all be there to show their wares and talk to the public. The website would act as the connecting link and could not only let people know about it, but also bring in some money.

Q & A with Allie Ginwala

Q: I have read your idea and I would like to understand a little more about it. What need does this idea fill? Is this a need that you have yourself? Who would share this need?

A: According to the last census, there are about 30,000 residents of Asian heritage living in New Hampshire. While this is still only 2.2% of the state's total population, it's group rising in number that should be given attention. In the past three years I've gained a passion for studying Asia and its cultures, specifically China and India. I've spent time in Asia and have come to learn about and love many unique things that weren't readily available to me living in New Hampshire. My website would highlight Asian cultures in New Hampshire. The target audience for my website is two-fold. The first would be for the Asian residents of New Hampshire to have something that would connect them to events, news, and places in New Hampshire. The second is to expose residents of New Hampshire to new ideas and give them a chance to learn and grow just as I have.

Q: At this point you should have some idea of who the average user of your product will be. What is the profile of that person?

A: My average user will a New Hampshire resident most likely in Manchester, Nashua, or the Seacoast region who enjoys world news and events and being immersed in new cultures or connecting to facets of already known cultures. I see the average user also as one who has traveled a bit and is perhaps looking to bring new life to his or her daily New Hampshire routine.

Q: Who wants this product that you intend to develop?

A: Students and teachers of Asian studies. Community members with ties to an Asian country or culture. A family that has traveled abroad and wants to relive the experience. A young twenty-something looking to engage in a fun festival over the weekend. The possibilities are rather wide open.

Q: What problem or need are you satisfying for your customers? (Remember, the customers aren't necessarily the people who will be using your product. For example, television audiences aren't customers unless they pay for the product, as in HBO. The customers are advertisers.)

A: I'm providing an outlet in which a whole host of age demographics will come together on common ground. Restaurants, festivals, classes, boutiques, grocery stores, travel agencies that focus on Asian culture can come to my website to advertise knowing that the individuals on the site already have an interest in their area. By focusing on a specific group and/or topic the advertisers and members can come to the same place to accomplish their goals, knowing that the focus is tailor made for them.

Q: We all have to live. Where is the money in this product?

A: The money for my website would come mainly from advertising because I don't want to require subscriptions. My goal for the website is to expand and explore ideas and cultures and I feel that requiring paid subscriptions would deter new viewers from the site. I'll also explore grant options because my website had a fairly singular focus that may be applicable to receive money.

Q: You are a journalist. Where is the journalism in this product?

A: This website is bursting forth with journalism. It's about introducing things to people they may have never heard of before. It's about connecting a community that may feel secluded or underrepresented. The journalism takes place when writing about a local mid-Autumn festival celebration or reviewing a new shop dedicated to selling saris. It's journalistic in that the content will involve people and their stories. Also, outside topics that are relevant will be on the website and open for comment and discussion among readers. The beauty of this website lies in the possibilities for journalism to be explored.

Q: We've read that passion is key to success of a new venture. Money alone will not sustain it. So where is the passion in your product?

A: Having lived in China, traveled in India, and studied language, literature and economics, my passion for Asia runs deep. Paired with the love for my home state of New Hampshire, it can easily be determined that my goal for this endeavor is to instill passion in others as well.

Thoughts from the reading

 I think I've settled on the Briggs text as my most useful text book this semester. It has a nice mixture of applicable ideas and tangible examples that both inspire and frighten me as an aspiring entrepreneur. Going along with the theme of EJ as a manual, Ch.8 highlighted for me the fact that no matter what type of journalism I pursue, SEO and social media are must-have areas of knowledge.

Briggs talks a lot about the importance of SEO and how important it is for entrepreneurs to optimize Web content via the art of the search engine (262). For instance, I knew that linking added variety to a website and helped get better listing in search engines, but I never thought of it as an "endorsement" for the merit of an article. It makes sense because when I read an article I really enjoy, I'll post it to Facebook or tweet about it so my friends and family can enjoy it too. If I ever have my own website, gaining credibility by linking to other sites will hopefully become a mutual action in return.

Another point Briggs made that in hindsight I should have seen as obvious is that social media promotion is just as important as the actual content. I tend to view social media as a secondary source of information and a primary source of keeping in touch. When it comes to business and journalism, social media has to be a priority, not just a promotion tool to use in my spare time. I can't focus on just the writing and reporting. In order to be successful as a jack-of-all-trades, social media, SEO, and the technical side have to become a priority.

EJ Project Idea Statement

I'd like to create a website dedicated to exploring Asian culture in New Hampshire. My vision for the site is "to cover different events and festivals, shops and stores, and educational opportunities throughout New Hampshire." In addition, I'd like to profile community members, encourage current news discussions, and report about local issues. I have a passion for Asia as well as New Hampshire and I believe the two have connections that just need to be uncovered.

The pre-packaged tweet

In the Nienam article about Jeff Bezos, I encountered a pretty cool feature for the first time. Three or four times throughout the piece, a certain section or line was shaded with the little Twitter bird at the end. If you click on it, you're directed to another window where the quotable section and article link are ready to go in a tweet from your own account.

I was surprised and impressed by this feature that was completely new to me. I tend to enjoy taking my favorite quotes from an article and tweeting about them. With this feature, you have the quote and link already organized. Plus, the shaded sections indicate that the reporter (or editor) singled out a certain section as important.

I wonder if a similar format could be applied to other social media outlets? Perhaps a ready-to-post Facebook status blurb for Linked In.

EJ project idea expanded

In one of my posts last week, I narrowed down interests and knowledgeable subjects to find something I could pursue as an EJ venture. I'm still noodling around with my idea, but what I have so far is a website about Asian cultures in New Hampshire. It would cover different events and festivals throughout the state, boutiques and shops with cultural ties and themes, and a whole host of other fun things like that.

Of course, it would need to serve as purpose. The key is to find a need and fill it. For that reason, I came up with this little relevancy blurb:

Bringing Asian cultures to New Hampshire or Connecting New Hampshire to the World

What I'd really like to do is tie things back to New Hampshire, to keep this state as a base. With that in mind, I could expand from just being an events site to a more news/issues oriented one. Here are some story pitches:

• Profile a prominent community member
• Cite outside articles (BBC, New York Times) that are pertinent
• A series called 'Why New Hampshire?' that would be all about individuals' stories of how and why they came to New Hampshire and how their lives have been impacted.*
• A feature about the rise in number of students from Asia studying abroad in New Hampshire

*This site would not just be for residents who immigrated. It would also be for second generation and so on residents. For anyone with a tie to or interest in an culture of Asia.

I need to do a bit more research into specific communities and website/blogs/newspapers that already exist to cover this topic, but it's definitely something I'm passionate about and would love to write about.

I think Mark Briggs sums it up best when he instructs us to "find a niche and attack it in a way that no one else can. Give your customers or audience real value in exchange for their time and money, and the competition will be worrying about you instead of the other way around."
 

Reporter vs. Journalist

When I first became interested in journalism in the 9th grade, I was adamant about terminology. It was always "I want to be a journalist" never "I want to be a reporter." In my mind, the word "reporter" was sullied. "Reporter" brings up images of squirrely individuals with an in-your-face attitude and an alcohol dependency. "Journalist" brings to mind an intense interview session, editorial-style writing, a reputable name. Not that any of the above is bad (except for the alcohol dependency) but for me a definite distinction was needed.

In our Newsonomics reading for the week, Doctor called briefly upon the image of the reporter of yesterday, as one who you would not want your child to marry because of the dark and devious road ahead. Maybe that's why such negativity is associated with and towards reporters. I think the old school idea of a reporter is one of the problems for the new era of journalism. People think of reporters as invasive and pushy. Now, the concept of reporter seems to be fading, replaced by commentators who don't even report, they just talk, and people still have negative associations with the media.

Is there any hope of a happy medium? Where reporters and journalists can dig for a story, effectively talk about and present it, and maintain a standing? Will the public ever like us? Do we even want them to?

Q & A with Susan Caldwell

Susan Caldwell is the founder and publisher of Applaud Women, an online magazine for women in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine.

1. Please describe what you do.

I created a print magazine for women in NH, MA, and ME almost 11 years ago. I’m the owner, publisher, editor, designer, occasional interviewer and do pretty much everything except the writing. In April 2009 I ended the print version. For me, designing the magazine hasn’t changed that much. I still design in the same way, I just had to learn how to put it online.

2. What inspired you to start Applaud? What were you doing before?

I was single mom so I had to find stuff to do that would support a family, not necessarily what I wanted to do. I came into some money and decided to figure out what I wanted to do. Everything in my interest and capabilities pointed to art so I did some research. I decided that I wanted to be a graphic designer so I went to the tech in Manchester to get my degree. 

I started making greeting cards, designing and selling them, when a friend suggested that I try selling them at a craft fair. At the fair, the woman at the table next to me had a digest for crafters and I thought, "Wow, I could do that for myself.” 

I’d already been networking with women in New Hampshire and realized that there wasn’t a magazine for women business owners in New Hampshire. Later on, I decided to expand the scope of the magazine for all women in NH, MA, and ME, partly for advertising purposes.

I had interned at New Hampshire Magazine for a semester while taking classes in Manchester because it was a requirement. I never thought it would someday lead to my own magazine.

3. What were the first steps of the process? Did you make a business plan?

The first this I did was talk to the woman who made the digest magazine. I knew from the beginning that the sales part would be the toughest for me. She was a great person to go to and she gave me great ideas and other people to talk to for more information and tips. I think that’s the best thing to do for anybody. Just find someone who has already done it and pick their brain.

4. What is the best part of having your own business? 

The freedom to have your own schedule and come up with your own ideas. You can decide whether to go with your ideas or not. It’s your own work, what you’ve completed alone. There’s a really a good feeling about that.

5. The worst part? 

The worst is that you tend to work harder. I’ve worked harder for myself than I ever have for anybody else. And money is always an issue. Money and time have been the biggest challenges.

Print was a nightmare. It's tougher for a business with a small staff and resources because distribution and even editing is more heavily critiqued. I hated giving up the print, but found out it was a blessing. I used to drive to Lyme, NH, in a rented van piling magazines back to bring back to my garage. To do this right, you need money to start, the right advice, and the ability to hire a lot of people. The Hippo did it right. They had the staff and the experience. 

It’s just me, which has its good times and its bad times. Definitely take advantage of resources dedicated to small businesses. Joining clubs like New Hampshire Creative Club where illustrators, designers, writers are all part of the creative mix.

6. What do you hope Applaud will look like in 5 years?

Better. Always better. I would really like it to be a household name and an inspiration to women.

7. What is the most important piece of advice you could give to an aspiring entrepreneur?

Don’t be afraid of making mistakes and asking questions. Keep your mind open to possibilities. You have to be a risk taker and can’t be closed minded. For me, I was ripe for that. I spent 30 years doing stuff that was boring and I hated what I did so I was so excited to do something that I could be passionate about which was really cool.

Profile of local entrepreneur Rian Bedard

In 2007, Rian Bedard took an urban permaculture class that changed his life forever. Living in California at the time, he learned about food waste and its impact on the earth. Once he finished the class, Bedard came back to New Hampshire to turn his new passion into a reality.

Mr. Fox Composting (formerly EcoMovement Consulting + Hauling) encourages people to recycle food waste as a daily habit that prevents adding to already stuffed landfills. The process is simple: Mr. Fox Composting gives you a container and liner to collect your food waste. At the end of each week, they come by to take it away. Everything from fruit peels to eggs shells to old bagels can be tossed in the bin.

Bedard is the founder and CEO of Mr. Fox Composting (founded in 2009) that is based in Dover, New Hampshire, and currently serves the Seacoast region.

Cool EJ sites

Here are a handful of successful journalistic endeavors I found online over the past week. I'm always inspired by what people come up with out of thin air. It makes me want to try harder and do something unique as well
 
Contently is a story-telling platform created to help adapt the world of publishing to the digital age. Founded in 2010 the goal of Contently is to assist journalists and "storytellers" with freelancing careers. The site bio says that writers are "no longer bound by so-called rules of who can be a publisher and who can't. At Contently, we're devoting our lives to leveling the playing field for the hungry and talented creators and publishers out there." I haven't signed up to create an online portfolio, but perhaps I will soon.

Latitude News is a site with the motto "It’s time for journalism to mashup the local and the global." In addition to tying together local, national and global, Latitude News is utilizing many platforms to get their message across. In 2012 they introduced a monthly audio feature that takes a closer look at one "intriguing tale" of US world relations per episode. More recently, they started a weekly radio report called the Local Global Mashup. And of course they have a twitter account. I really like format Latitude News uses. They take an issue big in the US and look into other country's methods of coping with similar things. I think the news Latitude covers and the way they cover it is a definite step into the future of journalism.

The Hairpin is a general interest women's website that covers books, music, daily news, travel, health, and advice. After looking only at the "About Us" page, I could immediately tell that this is a specialized site with a flair and pizazz in every piece of writing. The site "links to the stories of the day that appeal" and maintain the label of a women's site since it is mostly run by women, written by women, and read by women. Their contributor content comes in the form of text, video, illustration, and interested contributors are welcome to send submissions directly to the staff. I liked The Hairpin right away because it's a breath of fresh air in the genre of "women's writing." Usually female-oriented journalism is all about fashion, relationships, shopping, and weight. That is not the extent of interest areas for every female on the planet. As a woman, I can say we also like world news, business, and travel in addition to a list of places to buy the best yoga pants. The Hairpin gives me a nice balance, covering anything they deem interesting for the day.

Nieman Article response

Justin Ellis's article in Nieman Journalism Lab offers a great example opposing viewpoints on a certain subject. While I see validity in both points of view, I agree with Ryfe and Mensing that a hospital-style education plan for journalism schools would not be beneficial.

I think the point that solidifies Ryfe and Mensing's point of view is that unlike a medical school, journalism is constantly changing, therefore teaching it should constantly change. It's one thing to memorize and practice terms and techniques, but actually following trends and altering teaching schedules based on the day's events seems more akin to what journalism education should look like.

At the end of the article, Ellis tosses in a quick paragraph and quote about the future of journalism schools in relation to specialization. I'm familiar with some journalism school specialization, like Syracuse for broadcast journalism, but I think the idea that more specialization will happen over time is fascinating. Maybe someday there will be programs that only offer sports writing or focus only on editorial writing. Personally, I think this level of specialization would take it a bit too far. Simply because a well-rounded host of journalism courses can only benefit a budding journalist.

Finding my niche

Our discussion in class and last week's readings inspired me think about what I would do for a start up company. If I were to launch a website or blog, what would it be?

First of all, I'd have to find my niche area. Since I love lists, I'll start with a list of things I like and have knowledge about. Here are a few: UNH ice hockey, NHPR, Harry Potter, yoga, traveling, New Hampshire, Paula Poundstone, Indian food, Henry VIII's wives, Chinese culture, world news, owls.

Obviously many of those would be useless as a new endeavor so I can narrow it down and find links between the different areas of interest. One theme that sticks out to me is a penchant for exploring foreign cultures, specifically Asian cultures. No surprise there, as an Asian Studies minor, but how to I make it relevant to others and not just myself?

The next step: find a problem, fill a need.

There are currently 28,407 Asian residents in New Hampshire. Granted it is still only 3% percent of the population, it's a group that should be recognized. I could dedicate a blog to Asian culture in New Hampshire where I travel across the state and write about fairs, festivals, events, people, and issues pertinent to that specific group.

The NPR Model

While reading Newsonomics this week, I fluctuated from feeling excited about the wide open possibilities digital journalism has to offer to feeling depressed about the financial situation and difficulties ahead for new journalists. Perhaps the biggest theme that stuck out to me was the evolution of newspaper ownership and how often and for what reasons a paper exchanged hands. Based on the way Ken Doctor explained it, it seems the papers that are owned by large parent companies that own multiple medias have the benefit, financially and with coverage, of being able to gain revenue apart from the traditional 80/20 ad-to-subscription split.

Doctor also wrote about some recent start-ups and independent organizations trying the 'NPR' model of relying on member contributions for revenue. This may be difficult now, but in the long run I think newspapers, news sites and even blogs could switch to this method. As a big fan of NPR and the 'NPR' model, I think it could go even on step further. NPR has over 200 member stations operating across the country. Each member station has it's own staff, programming and unique style that it brings to its community. In addition, national news programming from NPR's headquarters gets air time in each member station for "larger" news stories.

I think eventually newspapers should go this way as well. Have one large organization that covers national and international news from its headquarters. To pair with that, a whole host of local newspapers and news sites can function in their own communities, stay local, and not have to stretch to cover everything. A symbiotic relationship in which everyone can win.

Achieving a Balanced News Diet

The phrase "news diet" sounds funny every time it hits my ears. As if news, this constantly swirling and changing thing, is a vital part of every life. Quite similarly to food, news comes to people in different ways and for different purposes. Some for entertainment, others for knowledge. Even more so like food. news intake should be monitored and honed to a healthy level. A balanced news diet is important because it helps each individual stay informed on general population news and on personal preference topics.

For instance, I visit the BBC website each day for major headlines and daily world  news. I listen to NHPR for local news and programs that relate directly to where I live. For humor and sometime for simplistic explanation, I watch The Daily Show and the Colbert Report. Finally, I go to social media (twitter, facebook) for UNH news and news that my peers have on their minds.

My friend Caiti, who happens to be sitting on my floor while I write this, has a very different news diet. When at home, she watches Channel 5 news in Boston and gleans local, national, and world news. She uses social media (facebook, twitter, tumblr) to get tidbits about different topics, then pursues ones of interest farther. She also tunes in to a myriad of news mediums for stories about her specialization or preferred topics, which is feminism, gender, and race.

While Caiti and I use different sources to follow different topics, we both have healthy and diverse news diets. I think it's a good exercise to take a step back and examine what news makes up a daily diet. Looking at it from an EJ perspective, it could be very useful to poll younger demographics to see what news sources they use for different types of news. That way, when looking to alter or create in the future, reader/consumer preference can already be in mind.

Ideas to Improve Journalism

1. Start early

I believe Corinne mentioned something similar in class and I thought it was a good idea so I''ll share my thoughts on the subject. Since journalism is heavily switching over to the Internet, why not take advantage of the kids who these days practically come out of the womb knowing how to work an iPhone. Even if a specific interest in journalism isn't realized yet, teaching kids how to write, interview and post online will benefit many careers later on. It will also give them a chance to learn to differentiate between solid news sources and randos with a blog.

2. Make online content the same price as buying a newspaper

A lot of people tend to freak out when a newspaper's website requires a subscription, but if newspapers are going the way of the record player and land line telephone, it needs to happen. What I've seen recently are sites that give you three articles free before making you pay. While good in theory, most people (including myself) just read the three and hop to a different source. If that option is unappealing, offer extras that come only with a paid subscription for online content.

3. Tighter regulation

This is an idea I've been playing around with and I'm not exactly sure what I think should happen. Some form of new regulation needs to be formed specifically to deal with online news content. First of all, I feel that a lot of the issues with making online news profitable is the wide openness of the Internet. Obviously, making rules about what can and cannot go online starts an unpleasant conversation about freedom. Unfortunately, since all signs point to a future of paperless journalism, this has to be something to think about. What if online news content from news organization were treated the same way as their paper component? Certain things would and would not be tolerated and legitimacy would be key. News sources should be allowed to be business online as much as they are in a print.

4. Keep the paper format online

Since  many  people like the format of the newspaper and many reports like writing for a newspaper format, why not have more e-versions available? I know the Globe have an e-version that comes with an online subscription. I like to use it in order to find sections of the paper easier and I definitely like to have the option.

5. Pair reporters with local bloggers

One idea to get better and closer local coverage is to have trained reporters work with a volunteer blogger to generate more content for a lower price. The reporter can help the blogger with the basics and advise her on stories to cover in the community. This may be irksome for reporters, but once the blogger is on her feet she could work more independently and use her reporter as a mentor.

Extreme Makeover, News Edition

Last week in class when we were going around the room sharing ways to save journalism, I couldn't help but notice the general sense of disdain for TV journalism. I got the feeling that as a room full of print journalists, we looked down on TV journalists as perhaps a "lesser" form of what we do. There is no question that I'm taking liberties assuming the feelings of our class, but I think there is something to be said about the status of TV journalists. Why do print journalists dislike TV journalists? What is it about TV journalism that bothers people?

1. All soft news, sensational news, or biased news

My issue with TV journalism is that if often crosses over into commentary, which is not reporting. A huge focus is placed on stories purely for entertainment or even legitimate stories that should get 10 minutes of air time, not a week. If that's not the case, the news source is labeled as conservative or liberal, limiting the stories aired and the angle placed on them. On TV, I have a hard time finding straight, relevant new.

2. Hair and makeup are heavily involved

Another problem is that being on camera requires a certain image to be maintained. Hair, makeup and wardrobe are all important. As a female journalist, sometimes I can't help but wonder if a female anchor is chosen for her appearance more than her ability. As a journalist interested in print, I can see how the perception of TV news as an image-based job not a skill-based job irks a lot of people.

3. Faltering as of late

TV journalism needs to slow it down. Take CNN for example, once a source that I highly respected has now gotten things wrong for the sake of being the first to break a story or aired stories that seem so trivial in light of serious, world news. Journalism is much like medical practice in the way that one mistake is all it takes to ruin a reputation.

If TV journalism has so many problems, image and content alike, why not just scrap the whole thing and focus on print and radio? The truth is, TV is a tremendously useful source. One of the best ways to alert the public and hold their attention is via the television. A lot can be said for the way some news anchors break down a story or use graphics to help the public understand. TV is a great tool. The question is, how to fix it?
 My top solution is to alter the kinds of stories that make the big news sources. Even if biased station report in their preferred angle, at least the public is getting a chance to choose what they identify with. It may not be happy and it may not be light, but talking about what's going on benefits everyone.