| The Media Development Program (MDP) works with Egyptian media outlets and training institutes to improve the professionalism and sustainability of the country’s media sector. One of the four key goals of MDP (see left box) is the development of media business managers and the economic viability of their enterprises. |
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Strategy to Make Money
Media run as a commercial enterprise aims at profits based on expert decision making. The economic viability of the Egyptian print and broadcast sectors depends on professional planning that recognizes and exploits business potential and reduces risk.
The MDP will conduct a range of teaching modules covering issues like Newspaper Circulation and New Media Platforms; Media Economics and Financial Management; Content Management; Advertising; and much more. All the modules highlight the importance of these topics to the survival of any media organization, as well as the ways they are inter-related. Put simply, MDP’s business courses are focused on how to run a profitable media organization. |
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Research Pays
Professional business planning should always be based on market research, which is the best way to learn about target audiences, and thus improve products. In the media business, accurate ratings of broadcast programs (via PeopleMeter) and print articles (via ReaderScan) can help increase reach and advertising income.
By facilitating dialogue between stakeholders, the MDP helps editorial and media business managers better understand the interdependency of successful media output and professional research input, making it clear that research is a necessary investment to generate revenue. At the same time, the MDP seeks to broaden researchers’ understanding of the media’s needs, and facilitate pioneer surveying to demonstrate its resulting benefits to the media. |
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All About Management
The business of media entails more than strategy and research. Successful media companies need to learn how to achieve sustainability through the right human resources approach, process-oriented workflows, state-of-the-art multi-distribution platforms, lean organizations, quality, service, and accountability.
These are the key issues at the heart of the MDP management training program. The MDP wants to help change mind-sets by contributing to the education of entrepreneurial, motivated media managers who serve their profitable newspapers and broadcasters as responsible and empowered executives. |
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Sustainability is the Key
Media must offer innovative and competitive products to sustain itself in the market. Print and broadcast must keep an eye on their competitors, constantly measuring their organization and products against the best of the industry. To remain competitive, their production technology must also be carefully monitored and assessed.
In addition to assisting the media in bringing the best international industry talent to Egypt for training and consultancies, the MDP also offers the latest production kits to its partners, ranging from desktop publishing to self-operational studio equipment to support leaner production. |
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