Reshaping the Business Model for Journalism
On May 27, 2020 Indiegraf (external link) launched to promote the growth of news outlets and sustainable business models for journalism. Indiegraf is a network that allows journalists and entrepreneurs to pool resources to create and develop independent digital news outlets.
Co-founder and CEO Erin Millar believes that a generational opportunity to transform the news industry and serve local communities better is possible.
“Entrepreneurship and innovation are urgently needed to fill gaps in local news,” said Millar. “Media ownership can’t only be for people who can code or have buckets of money—it’s for anyone who believes in the mission of journalism.”
Indiegraf provides three main resources to small publishers, all of which were designed to educate, inform, connect and facilitate the expansion of independent digital news outlets. Indie Network connects small publishers to the Indiegraf community of news entrepreneurs and gives members exclusive access to learning, funding and licensing opportunities.
Indie School teaches members about the business of independent publishing. Indie School includes a free newsletter, Indie Publisher, which is the first step into being submerged in the world of news entrepreneurship. Indie School also provides a program for members which helps turn ideas into subscribers, called the Indie News Challenge.
The third service provided is Indie Engine, the digital infrastructure including the marketing team to support an independent news outlet.
Indiegraf launched with seven initial publisher partners: Sun Peak (external link) , Independent News (external link) , The Discourse Cowichan (external link) , Peterborough Currents (external link) , IndigiNews (external link) , APTN News (external link) , La Converse (external link) and Spark YGL. According to the Indiegraph website, the project has brought local news access to more than 3.5 million community members and has raised $550,00 in funding for independent publishers.
Millar leads the project along with her sister, CTO and co-founder Caitlin Havlak. The two were inspired by their five years of experience working on community-funded news outlet The Discourse (external link) , which has been recognized for its innovation and ambition.
“What was learned at The Discourse can be brought into other communities and publications. We are at a crossroads since the last recession and the business model for journalism is not working. Print journalism isn’t going to keep business afloat,” said H.G. Watson, Indiegraf senior editor and RSJ instructor.
Watson believes it is her responsibility to help solidify the future of journalism. She said, “I love journalism and I have to do the work to make sure there are publications to work for in the future.”