Beta 2020 resources
Session summaries to read, watch, link to, and download
Splice Beta is your media festival.
We believe in the importance of an ecosystem-based approach, and Splice Beta is where it all comes together — where we all come together. It’s a celebration of the amazing work that media startups are doing.
Looking for a video, slide deck, or chat transcript? Search is your friend.
“#splicebeta has created a virtual space for information, collaboration, and inspiration as well as amazing networking!”
— Patricia Torres-Burd, MDIF
Covid is accelerating Southeast Asian media’s emphasis on online journalism skills
Many traditional newsrooms rushed to adapt, despite inadequate tools and training, according to Reporting ASEAN’s Johanna Son.
Building, finding, and engaging communities on Facebook
As a media company, if you're not serving your users, why do you exist? Grace Clapham at Facebook has some advice on how to build your community.
The media of tomorrow: Inside the world of Malaysian esports
The rise of esports is just as much about a new world of gameplay as it is the birth of a new form of entertainment, explains What’s The Meta Today’s founder Mariah Ahmad.
From radio network to cross-media platform: Exploring KBR’s exclusive podcast deal with Spotify
While the podcast scene is growing in Indonesia, few are exploring journalistic storytelling podcasts like Citra Prastuti and her team at KBR Prime.
Breaking down the fundamentals of media management
Your company’s vision is the big change you wish to bring about, while your strategy is how you plan to achieve it, says Henrik Keith Hansen at IMS.
How Tech In Asia focused on subscriptions to drive profitability in the pandemic
“With crisis comes opportunity. We launched subscriptions after layoffs and were low on cash. There is nothing like survival to motivate us,” says TIA’s Terence Lee.
How I'm using podcasts to drive a discussion about feminism in Myanmar
I want to see a world where people are criticized for their bad behavior, not for their gender and sexual orientation, says Myanmar podcaster and feminist activist Nandar.
How The Ken tackled Covid, devised a complete work-from-home strategy, and thrived
The pandemic made us realise it was never about the offices alone, It was about the culture, The Ken’s co-founder and CEO Rohin Dharmakumar says.
A lack of business expertise can restrict the impact of independent media. We want to change that.
MDIF’s Indonesia-based Tessa Piper and Gabriel Sugrahetty talked about the organization’s Southeast Asia Technical Assistance Initiative, a mentorship program that is recruiting five more independent media outlets in the region until September 25.
How Wapatoa built a media startup to serve young people in Cambodia
You can’t serve an audience if you don’t first learn how to empathise with them, according to Wapatoa’s co-founder Alix Feschotte.
How we prototype news products at The Wall Street Journal
Only try to learn about one thing at a time when it comes to building prototypes, says WSJ’s Robin Kwong.
Podcast maverick Niki Torres on tips and tools to build your own podcast series
“With Chief Best Friends, I wanted to advocate for women cultivating meaningful friendships so they can support each other and conduct business partnerships successfully.”
Kickstarting your commercial revenue streams for a post-Covid media world
A sustainable commercial revenue business requires a list of clients and a means for communicating with them, says Ross Settles at HKU.
Preparing for funding — how to plan for an ask before you need it
Kevin Brockland, senior investment officer at MDIF, offers practical tips what to do if you’re looking for investment in your media startup.
Building The Current: What Pakistan’s Marium Chaudhry learned about starting up
“Having kids and a family should not stop women from pursuing their goals.”
What we learned about running memberships in newsrooms
Reader-centric decision-making requires an entire organization to shift its mindset, say Malaysiakini’s Lynn D'Cruz and New Naratif’s Deborah Augustin.
Media is like any other business — asking the right questions will give you a better chance at success
MDIF’s Koreel Lahiri has developed a collection of 150+ questions to help guide founders through the process of starting up a media venture.
Monetizing your Facebook audience through Instant Articles
Like many newspapers, Malaysia's Sin Chew has been on a journey of transforming the way they work. And like many others, they're finding new ways to optimize monetization on digital platforms.
Tips for publishers to win at Instagram. Feed, Reels, Live, Posts, Stories done right.
Instagram’s Nicci Meek on explains shareable and saveable content is king.
How Substack is giving independent journalists a platform and a way to monetise their work
When journalists focus on niche beats and not compete with the attention economy, the industry wins, says Substack’s McKenzie.