SJMC announces new position

Written by Sudyen Navarrete

The University’s School of Journalism and Mass Communications announced its first entrepreneur in residence.

Jeff Brown, an angel investor, serial entrepreneur and founder of Fourth Estate Public Benefit Corporation, will be working with SJMC faculty and students to identify, evaluate, support and launch innovative start-ups.

“I couldn’t be more excited,” said Brown. “I am happy to see that many students that I’ve talked to have entrepreneurial dreams.”

In addition to being an entrepreneur in residence at SJMC, Brown also wants to collaborate with the entire University.

He said that many entrepreneurs are great with working in start-ups, business and technology, but they are not good communicators. For him, entrepreneurs must have the ability to represent themselves professionally.

“I believe graduate journalists will be the CEOs of the future because they can tell complex and clear stories,” said Brown.

Raul Reis, dean of SJMC, said that he wants the school to be advanced in innovation and entrepreneurship and, due to this, Brown was picked for the job.

“I want to make the school more innovative, entrepreneurial and bring those aspects into the curricula,” he said. “I want SJMC in the center of what is going on.”

Panther Cage, a contest in developing innovative ideas to present in front of judges, was what started Brown’s collaboration with FIU. He participated as one of the judges for the contest.

“All comments and questions that he asked were smart and interesting,” said Reis. “He is a person who has a lot of experience in listening to ideas, pitching his own ideas, getting investors together and investing ideas in companies.”

Reis said that students need to get a sense of being entrepreneurial because the media is changing with new innovations.

For him, Brown’s ideas are “exceptional,” carrying a “sense of motivation and expertise that will help students of SJMC.”

The entrepreneur in residence was a position created solely for Brown. He took the position as a volunteer and will not be getting paid by the University.

“[I took the position] to support journalism and entrepreneurship,” he said.

Brown was motivated to work at the University, said Reis.

“He has a lot to offer the school in terms of ideas and experience,” he said. “He has that ‘know-how,’ and he will be able to bring that and share it with us.”

Vanessa Cuadros, a junior broadcast media student, thinks the University needs entrepreneurship to help media run properly.

“As future graduates, we will encounter this and there’s nothing better than to learn how to handle business and succeed in the market,” she said.

Daniela Gonzalez, a senior broadcast media major, agrees.

“As a journalism student, I think it’s essential to know about entrepreneurship and in what ways I can use it for my career,” she said. “As the media changes, the business of media will also change and we must stay updated.”

Brown plans to interact with students during Startup Weekend, a 54-hour event where the public, which includes students, faculty and even non-FIU community, will be able to contribute ideas for business, products, services and more, according to their website.

The ideas will be presented in front of a panel of judges.

“Brown wants to work with every single group after the event to pitch ideas on their projects and give them as much information and expertise on how to start a company and getting investors,” said Reis.

Brown said he always encourages and challenges his colleagues to participate and be involved with students.

He will serve as entrepreneur in residence for a year.

“I want to do a great job for SJMC,” said Brown.

-sudyen.navarrete@fiusm.com

Photo Courtesy of Creative Commons