ABSTRACT
How has the process of starting a business publication changed since the late 1880s and the founding of publications such as the Financial Times and The Wall Street Journal? Nimble business journalism startups have long existed, mostly in the form of trade publications. Then, the internet made publishing both faster and cheaper, enabling any journalist to turn their expertise into a publication. But broader factors have led to the rise in journalists taking that leap. This chapter investigates the market forces on journalism that are funneling more people toward going solo or starting their own newsrooms. Tech platforms such as Google and Facebook have led to newsroom contraction by eating into news organizations’ bottom lines while also enabling news entrepreneurs to reach audiences without relying on those institutions. At the same time, emerging industries, from cryptocurrencies to the cannabis industry, have created opportunities for entrepreneurially minded journalists. New technologies, including digital wallets, and platforms such as Substack and Zoom, have also enabled the revenue streams on which industry-specific publications rely, namely subscriptions and events. As the broader news industry struggles to find alternatives to ad revenue, this chapter explores what is and isn’t working.
