Looking Back at the Inaugural CABJ Media Startup Bootcamp Program

Technological advancements have created many new opportunities for Black journalists to share their stories and generate revenue in the process. In recognition of these media innovations, the Canadian Association of Black Journalists launched the CABJ Media Startup Bootcamp. A three-week virtual training program to equip Black content creators and entrepreneurs with the skills and tools to successfully launch their own digital media startups. 

The inaugural program took place in November 2020, and it was a success! 19 Black content creators from across Canada joined us for the opportunity to learn, network, and refine their business strategies. Instructors with experience in launching digital media startups led the program, providing lessons on various topics such as Building An Effective Website For Your Publication, Reaching Your Audience: Harnessing the Power of Social Media, and Gliding Through the grant process.

Although there are many resources online for those interested in starting a business, none align with the experience that Black Canadian entrepreneurs will face as much as the CABJ Media Startup Bootcamp. The program's goal has always been to create a mentorship experience for black entrepreneurs led by black entrepreneurs.

"I think one thing that really excited me about the Bootcamp is that it was specifically targeted to Black journalists and media publications. In the past, I have done small entrepreneurial programs/incubator activations. I found them somewhat helpful, somewhat not. I think just how focused this was really aligned with the work that we do, and I took that as an opportunity to gain more insight and learn." said Caleb, founder of the print and media publication 1919 and a student of the Winter 2020 Cohort.

"We are an arts and cultural organization. We organize for culture producers across Canada. I think what's most special about our platform is that we're really not just a publication. We hold a lot of community and art events, as well as civic events."

Regardless of whether the students seek insight into running a business, technical skills, or creative direction, the Bootcamp provides valuable information for entrepreneurs at any stage in their companies. 

"I would say mainly because we didn't come in as a startup, there were some things that I was familiar with, and there were some things that they were saying that validated some of the things that we've already done. But, I would say some of the specific things that I learned was more on the technical side. In some of the Bootcamp lessons, they went into the specifics of SEO, as well as keywords, and other things behind enhancing your website and technical operations. Those are things I wasn't too familiar with."

The CABJ understands that many Black content creators and entrepreneurs face financial barriers when starting a business. Therefore, upon completing the program, students have the opportunity to pitch their business idea to a panel of industry professionals. The five students with the best pitch will receive a $5000 business grant to take their organization to the next level. This grant allows students to support their startups in various ways, such as purchasing new equipment or paying featured writers and content creators for their work.

When asked how the grant would help take his organization to the next level, Caleb said, "We don't want to work in this space if we can't pay people, and that means fairly and a living wage. Revenue is important. So I think the seed money would be great because it would allow us to put more work out and publish more cultural producers. And put money into our different projects."

Although the Winter program has come to an end, students and CABJ members can still access the recorded lectures, future networking events, job opportunities, and other resources that we offer.