Breakfast with the Business Journal

This morning I attended a very successful Washington Business Journal Breakfast with the Business Journal event at Clyde’s in Reston Town Center. While WBJ puts these events on quite often, this was the first one I’ve attended. I was expecting a panel discussion of likes and dislikes and was pleasantly surprised to find a more open forum where you can introduce yourself and pitch away or just engage some of the reporters, editors or other folks there to network in conversation.

Alex Orfinger, however, did get up (on the bar) and introduce his staff. He also noted that in this time where we hear about print publications struggling everyday, the WBJ is entering its sixth year of increased circulation.

Overall, I think the most interesting topic of conversation in the room was the intersection of print and online media and how to succeed in an “online world” where people are consuming media in different ways. There were many opinions to be heard – while some would chastise including “locked” online content on a website, WBJ’s circulation numbers prove that it’s working for them. Others were amazed to hear that Tierney Plumb, who writes mainly for the online version of WBJ, posts about 12 stories a day.

It has seemed for a while now that the definition of traditional media is changing… for better or worse, is in the eye of the beholder according to conversations this morning.

- Ali Smith