Why Newspapers Don’tCover Innovative Startups

Thomas FrostbergEditor-in-chief, Rapidus News service

InJo Fellow, Stanford 2006Host: San Francisco Chronicle

Newspapers in the study

Results

• The majority ofarticles are aboutlisted companies

• Only a handful ofarticles in eachnewspaper dealt withstartups

• Far from all thesecompanies could bedescribed asinnovative

Why “big company” focus?

• Big is Beautiful• Impact on the economy• Interest from shareholders• Easy to get information• Elite persons• Newsworthy

Why is this a problem?

Startups are the next generation of bigcompanies, meaning…

• …exclusive stories = differentiate• …surprising and sensational stories = news!• …writing about the future = being ahead• …often about local companies = recognition• …with global potential = success stories

But more important…

Newspapers & Medici Effects

Groundbreaking innovations can best be createdin the Intersections were cultures, domainsand disciplines stream together.

This kind of remarkable innovations are calledthe Medici Effect.

Newspapers could better than other media…• …be these Intersections• …and contribute to Medici Effects

How?

• Redefine the news rules

• Send all stock news online

• Educate editors and reporters

Thank you all!