A former colleague of mine at The Chronicle, Alan Mutter, is joining with the Inland Press Association to launch “the Executive Program for Innovative Change” — in essence, a boot camp for legacy newspaper publishers and senior executives to learn Silicon Valley-like innovation. Mutter also is a longtime Silicon Valley executive.
I worked at newspapers for decades (including at The Chronicle), but joined the digital media at its onset (at CNET). I also covered Silicon Valley firms for years. Our regional magazine has a foot firmly planted in print and online, and we’re growing steadily. I also enjoy a collaborative relationship with the Sacramento Bee — both with our business and my personal blog. The Bee’s “Sacramento Connect” network — a network of blogs, online “‘zines” and community news — is one of the industry’s most innovative programs.
Most newspaper publishers haven’t a clue about Silicon Valley or innovation — clinging to a utility-like mindset — so this is a cool idea. Here’s an introduction and video:
“The Executive Program for Innovative Change is an intensive program for a select group of senior newspaper executives — from large papers or small, dailies or weeklies — who over the course of 12 months plan, develop and execute projects that deliver game-changing positive results for their organizations.
Participants will learn how to cultivate a culture of innovation and continuous improvement at their companies.
“In sessions with leading media experts they will develop a strategic perspective as well as the entrepreneurial skills necessary to achieve a real-world goal. That could mean building revenue or audience, ramping up productivity or profitability or dramatically altering cost structure. Projects can involve the legacy print product, digital initiatives — or some media mixture.”
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