Scripps Howard Institute at Cronkite Trains Professors in Journalism Entrepreneurship

Fifteen professors from across the country will study entrepreneurial journalism at the fifth annual Scripps Howard Journalism Entrepreneurship Institute at Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. The five-day institute teaches journalism professors the necessary best practices to infuse entrepreneurship into their academic programs. The Jan. 4-8 event is made possible through a grant from the Scripps Howard Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the E.W. Scripps Co. “The Scripps Howard Foundation believes innovation and entrepreneurial thinking are core values of journalism, just as are accuracy, fairness and storytelling,” said Mike Philipps, president and CEO of the Scripps Howard Foundation. “ASU’s Cronkite School shares those values and that makes it the perfect place for this program.” The institute is led by Cronkite Professor of Practice Dan Gillmor, an internationally recognized author and leader in new media and entrepreneurship. This year’s event features sessions with prominent entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and investors on entrepreneurship principles, the startup community and digital product development. Presenters include Francine Hardaway, partner at Stealthmode Partners, Brad Burnham, partner at Union Square Ventures, Retha Hill, director of the Cronkite School’s New Media Innovation and Entrepreneurship Lab, and former Forbes Magazine Publisher Jeff Cunningham, a professor of practice at Cronkite and the W. P. Carey School of Business at ASU. For the first time, Scripps fellows will take part in joint sessions with journalists and professors attending Reynolds Week, a five-day business journalism boot camp through the Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Business Journalism at the Cronkite School. Both groups will attend keynotes featuring Chiqui Cartagena, Univision’s vice president of corporate marketing, and Elisa Camahort Page, co-founder and chief operating officer of BlogHer. “In a media world where change is accelerating, tomorrow’s journalists will need to understand and appreciate the startup culture,” Gillmor said. “We’re grateful to our funder and the terrific speakers who are helping to ensure that entrepreneurship will become a component of our fellows’ programs.” The 15 fellows were competitively selected, and each of their universities has committed to offer a class in journalism entrepreneurship in the year following the fellowship. Training, transportation, lodging, materials and meals are provided to the fellows at no cost. The E.W. Scripps Co. is a leading media enterprise with 19 television stations and newspapers in 13 markets that is developing and expanding its digital strategies, including social gaming, for multiple platforms. Since 1941, Scripps has operated the National Spelling Bee, one of America’s most-enduring celebrations of academic excellence. 2015 Scripps Howard Entrepreneurship Institute Fellows Sybril Bennett, professor, Belmont University Marquis Blaine, journalism director and senior instructor, University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication Allie-Ryan Butler, assistant professor, Hampton University Scripps Howard School of Journalism and Communications Curt Chandler, senior lecturer, Penn State University College of Communications Melanie Faizer, lecturer, University of Tennessee College of Communication and Information Mignon Fogarty, chair in media entrepreneurship, University of Nevada, Reno, Reynolds School of Journalism Geoffrey Graybeal, assistant professor of media management and entrepreneurship, Texas Tech University College of Media and Communication Jae Sik Ha, assistant professor, University of Illinois Springfield Desiree Hanford, lecturer, Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism Steven Listopad, assistant professor/student media director, Valley City State University Asmaa Malik, assistant professor, Ryerson University Carmen Manning-Miller, professor and chair, The Lincoln University Shearon Roberts, assistant professor, Xavier University of Louisiana Julie Serkosky, assistant professor-in-residence, University of Connecticut Amy Sindik, assistant professor, Central Michigan University