N’Terprise
N'DIGO Invites Local Authors To "Go Hollywood!"
Hermene Hartman
To media watchers, the recent demise of the Printed Blog didn't come as a complete shock, although it was a major letdown.
It seems the whole world had their eyes on local entrepreneur Josh Karp when he announced the Printed Blog. His business model was part old media (print), part new media (blogs) with an alternative weekly edge-he would pull the hottest blogs from the net, add pictures and print them as a free newspaper.
The Printed Blog represented the peaceful merge of traditional media and new media, and the business model seemed legit. The low overhead, complete with the hyper local targeted ads, promised boundless revenue.
But even such a promising venture--set against the backdrop of a sea of failing newspapers--didn't garner the venture capital needed to succeed.
Downsizing has hit Chicago's publishing landscape with a wanton fury as the newsrooms struggle to find footing in an instantly evolving industry.
"The insurance agencies and the banking community have done very well going to Washington for bailouts. They are 'too big too fail,'" says Hermene D. Hartman, publisher of N'Digo, the magapaper for the urbane now celebrating its 20th anniversary.
"There is another industry to consider that's being overlooked, and it is too important to fail, yet it is falling down right before our very eyes. Print media is in serious trouble. Its existence is threatened. Papers are filing bankruptcy, and the world of journalism is being reinvented, reconsidered and rethought. The government might want to take a serious look at the newspaper industry as a too-vital-to-fail entity in our society and hold hearings for solutions."
But Hartman is a media visionary who isn't waiting for solutions to come from Capitol Hill. Instead, she realizes that content is king, and she is honing, re-branding and distributing that content across various platforms. Hartman blogs on the Huffington Post, she delivers commentaries on Views from the Heart (Monday through Friday at 9:12 a.m. on V-103 F.M.) and is simultaneously editing her new book and fielding television show inquiries from the television networks. Hartman is also inviting other creative types to take their content to the next level.
What originated as a private book launch event for Hunter's authors Karyn M. Grice, What Happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas (2009) and Zondra Hughes, The M.O.O.D. Lounge (re-released 2009) and co-author of Ritz Harper Goes to Hollywood, a collaboration with New York Times Bestseller Wendy Williams, became something far more important.
In response to the massive layoffs in the media industry, the authors pooled their resources to host the Go Hollywood! writers' seminar and networking event featuring their publisher, Karen Hunter, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and a New York Times Bestseller. Hunter parlayed her successes into her own imprint, Karen Hunter Publishing-a division of Pocket Books at Simon & Schuster. As a successful publisher, Karen has recently signed pop sensation Janet Jackson, R&B diva Patti LaBelle and the most successful black novelist of all time with 10 straight New York Times Bestsellers, E. Lynn Harris.
LaJoyce Brookshire
Heavyweights join the Seminar
Open to the general public, the agenda kicks off with a 6 p.m. power networking session with Karen Hunter, where complimentary food and beverages will be served. N'Digo is the official print sponsor.
The seminar begins promptly at 7 p.m., followed by a Q&A session led by Hermene Hartman.
LaJoyce Brookshire (author of Soul Food and Faith Under Fire) and new media tycoon Dante Lee of LeeMoss Media (founders of the largest network of premium African American web properties including BlackNews.com, HBCUconnect.com, BlackHistory.com, BlackinAmerica.com and BlackPR.com, among others) will co-host the networking hour.
"If you've been sitting on a book idea, are in the pitching stage, or even if you've self-published and are now looking for book-to-film opportunities, this is the writers' seminar for you," Karen Hunter states.
All guests will receive the star treatment as they network, enjoy great food and gain insight and inspiration about the many opportunities that exist in the new world of publishing.
Registration for the event is $99. To register, log on to www.karenhuntermedia.com or call 800.513.9368.
N'Digo advertisers expand your brand! For special promotional opportunities, please call Crystal at 312.264.6278 (cperry@ndigo.com) or Reggie at 312.264.6251 (rspears@ndigo.com).
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