Ex-business editor starts financial planning business

Joe Grimm posted his interview with David McPherson, the former Deputy business editor of The Providence Journal today on Poynter.
McPherson left the Providence Journal in 2007 to start his own financial planning business. He departed the news industry after 20 years to help people "make sense of their financial lives" and to avoid growing to dislike his journalism work.
He started setting up Four Ponds Financial Planning LLC immediately after leaving the paper and got his first customer within a few months. He now runs his business and writes a financial column for ABCNews.com.
McPherson discusses some of the difficulties he faced leaving his job, what motivated him to continue on with his goal and what he learned along the way. The now-business owner said he wished he had pursued an MBA while still in journalism. From the article:

"That would have made me a better reporter and editor and would have helped me prepare for the next stage of my working life...Seek education and training in another career field even if you feel secure in your job and you can't imagine a life without journalism."

See the entire story here.

Athletes turned entrepreneurs

Portfolio has created a series of videos interviewing athletes who have become avid entrepreneurs. The athletes discuss lessons they've learned in the process of entering business and offer advice for aspiring industrialists. The athlete entrepreneurs include:

• Peggy Fleming
• Tate George
• Tony Hawk
• Eric Heiden
• Stacy Peralta
• Ray Pinney
• Jerry Rice
• Cathy Rigby
• Leonard Wheeler

These videos go beyond the traditional advice of business executives, delving into the real-life experiences of entrepreneurs striving to establish themselves through their innovation and athletic experiences.
The framing is intimate and creates the sense you're having a one-on-one talk with the speakers. Each interview is cut into 5 bite-size pieces both candid and inclusive for viewers, something all business journalists should aspire to in pieces on business individuals.
To view the videos, click here.

What do you think of athletes that enter business? What stories have you written lately on entrepreneurs? Comment and let us know!

Former Star-Ledger employees start news site

Last year, New Jersey's The Star-Ledger bought out nearly half of its 330 newsroom employees in an effort to avoid shutting down or exploring a sale if costs could not be cut.
According to Editor & Publisher, 40 of those former employees have now started up their own news site, NewJerseyNewsroom.com.

The site, which so far has only Google ads but virtually no overhead, claims about 10,000 page views per week. It is mixing original reporting about the Garden State -- ranging form statehouse issues to sports -- along with links to other sites, including the Star-Ledger. An arrangement with Voice of America also allows the site to use that outlet's content.

No one working for the site is being paid yet, since they each have several months worth of salary payments remaining from their buyouts. This helps the new site keep costs low while it tries to attract readers, advertising dollars and funding.
To read more, click here.