Entrepreneurship

Catalog description

This course will examine the process of bringing creative ideas into reality within a publishing framework. Each student will select a project - a trade book, magazine company (or a single title or series), a publishing-related service business, or a publishing-associated web site-that will be discussed and agreed upon in the first 2 weeks of class. Coursework will be centered on this project, which will be expanded upon and refined during the semester. Students will investigate the relevant phases of the publishing process through their individual projects. We will consider the ways in which entrepreneurship can contribute to the publishing process including sales, marketing, editorial, finance and operations. We will pay particular attention to issues that are critical to a successful entrepreneurial venture including financial planning, cash management, contingency planning, preparing your business for potential sale and/or merger. There will be at least two Guest Speakers who will talk about starting their own businesses. While there are no prerequisites for this seminar, completion of the Pace Financial Aspects of Publishing and Marketing courses would provide a useful basis for this course.