Risky Business: John Harris, Jim VandeHei, and Politico Part A
Abstract
CSJ-09-0021.0 These two stand-alone cases examine separate aspects of the hybrid print/online political news outlet Politico . In Part A, students are taken behind the scenes and into the minds of two journalism entrepreneurs. In November 2006, John Harris and Jim VandeHei chose to leave the relative security of top reporting jobs at the Washington Post in order to start a new publication, Politico . While they were fortunate to secure financing, that promise came with an obligation to produce a paper product in addition to their envisioned online political news. As the two reporters scrambled in a scant two months to find staff for their publications while gearing up for a new business, they discovered numerous areas where their expertise was thin: legal, human resources, technology, and marketing. They had to persuade luminaries of the political reporting world to leave secure jobs and sign on with their start-up. They also had to coordinate production of the website with the newspaper. As the launch date approached in late January 2007, the two wondered whether they had made a wise decision in going out on this entrepreneurial limb.
This case can be used by itself, or in combination with Part B: A Winning Model.
The case is suitable for classes about the business of journalism; about editorial decisionmaking; or about digital media.
This case was written by Kathleen Gilsinan for the Knight Case Studies Initiative, Graduate School of Journalism, Columbia University. The faculty sponsor was Dean of Academic Affairs William Grueskin. Funding was provided by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. (1109)