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��Owning the Story Media Start-Up Lessons��Learning from Global �Success Stories��Patricia Torres-Burd�MD of Media Advisory Services-MDIF�

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Evolving Media Landscape

The definition of media is shifting

Independent journalism is competing with everything from Netflix to Substack

Readers have limited time and money—they go where value is clear

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INNOVATION IS REQUIRED

We are failing at drastically changing our approach to news media by running organizations in the same manner as we have in the past.

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Think about Brand Partnerships

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Think “Outside The Box”

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BRAND

No matter the industry, product, customer or size, a company’s brand is its single most important asset.

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Everything you do or consider MUST begin with your AUDIENCE in effect your CONSUMER

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Aspect	Market Research	Market Analysis
Focus	Consumer behavior, preferences, and sentiment	Industry-wide trends, competition, and external forces
Scope	Narrow—focuses on specific audiences and customer insights	Broad—examines entire market landscapes and business environments
Objective	Understanding customer needs, improving products, and refining messaging	Assessing market conditions, forecasting growth, and identifying strategic opportunities
Data Sources	Surveys, focus groups, customer feedback, and behavioral data	Economic reports, competitor performance, regulatory changes, and technological advancements
Use Case Examples	Testing a new product concept with target customers, measuring brand perception, identifying marketing opportunities	Evaluating market demand for expansion, assessing competitive threats, analyzing industry-wide shifts

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� Telegram.hr

Established in 2015
First digital media in Croatia to introduce Subscription-Based model for news

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Diversified Revenue

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� Telegram.hr

Book Publishing
Focused on editorial direction of Telgram.hr

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� Book publishing

Revenue
Podcast Content
Editorial Special Sections

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BRAND EQUITY = TRUST

Daily news podcast Prvi Glas (First Voice)

Launched this April is now the most listened to news podcast in Croatia, in competition with media from all over the world, e.g. The Economist, BBC and others

�

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It’s no longer business as usual. ��Strategic thinking isn't a luxury—it’s a survival imperative.�

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Community-Driven �Media for Black Women

Origin & Growth: From newsletter to lifestyle brand
Audience Engagement: Deep retention (95–98%), personal tone
Revenue Model: Brand partnerships + membership
Inclusivity & Representation: Intentional editorial diversity
Community Crowdfunding: 1,400+ contributors, up to £25,000 each

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Audience Listening

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Safe Space for Black Women / Slack Channel

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VALUE ADD

Despite smaller audiences, Black-led media organizations like Black Ballad have highly engaged communities.
Such outlets provide authentic insights and connections that are often overlooked by brands focusing solely on reach metrics.

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Black women ‘undervalued’ by brands�

Advertising has become Black Ballad’s biggest revenue stream

Has also partnered with other media outlets including BBC, Refinery 29, Huffpost UK and Yahoo

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“When we pitch to brands, I can confidently say that no other media outlet has this level of engagement with Black women.”

Tobi Oredein Founder

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Think 360 Campaigns

Think about working with similar brands that align with partnership types or provide a benchmark of brand collaborations in culturally driven media campaigns.

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Black Ballad Beauty Council

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Case Studies

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What Can We Learn?

Diversify revenue without compromising mission
Define a unique value proposition
Invest in community, not just content
Keep the dialogue open with your audience

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The Path Forward?

Embrace hybrid models (subs + brand collabs)
Test ideas and iterate with your audience
Independence doesn’t mean isolation—it means intention

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Takeaways from Success Stories

Closing Thought: Operational Strategy as a Leadership Act

Too often, survival mode kills strategy. What these examples show is that strategy is a daily discipline, not an annual retreat.

Invest in leadership structures that empower strategic thinking.

Build a brand before you need it.

Respect your audience by doing the work—research, testing, feedback.

Plan transitions before you're forced to.

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The most impactful decisions are rarely flashy. �They’re quiet. �Intentional. �Thoughtful.��And they change everything.�

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A CHAOTIC PAST & FUTURE ARE GOOD NEWS

Destiny shouldn’t guide entrepreneurship, but too often circumstances like the country you’re born in have meant too much.

That’s changing. Instead, the intersection of adversity with opportunity – the ideal breeding ground for driven entrepreneurs – is moving global, and “the next hundred years of entrepreneurship will be chaotic, but better”,

Matt Harris, Partner at Bain Capital Ventures.

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Innovation & Inspiration

“The media industry faces unprecedented challenges, and our focus increasingly turns to the Majority World - where independent outlets operate under pressure but continue to drive impact and resilience.

It’s here that we find remarkable sources of innovation and inspiration.”

Bilal Randeree, MDIF Chief Program Officer

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Tobi Oredein CEO & Founder of Black Ballad

MAS COMMUNITY

GLOBAL CALL

OCTOBER 15, 2025�2:30 PM �ZOOM

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PATRICIA.TORRES-BURD@MDIF.ORG

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Password �AMPMDIF2025!

OVER 700 DOWNLOADABLE FILES�THIS PRESENTATION IS UNDER THE ENGAGEMENT SUBFOLDER