I would imagine that at least some of you, like me, know people who claim to be media entrepreneurs or may even have such ambitions personally. Here is a roadmap to help us all stay on the side of legitimate if modest productivity rather than grifting:

Minimum Viable Media Company Roadmap

1. Define Identity and Mission

Name and Domain: Register a proper website with your company name (not just a social media handle). Mission Statement: One paragraph answering: What do we cover? For whom? Why does it matter? Brand Consistency: Logo, basic visual identity, and a consistent “voice.”

2. Establish Core Output

You need at least one recurring product line. Pick one and stick with it:

Written: Blog posts, newsletters, op-eds, white papers. Audio: A regular podcast, even 20 minutes once a week. Video: A YouTube channel with commentary, interviews, or explainers. Publishing: E-books, reports, or anthologies.

Minimum threshold: 1 piece of substantive content per week (not just replies to other people’s posts).

3. Show Tangible Credibility

Publish 3–5 cornerstone pieces that clearly show expertise (e.g., investigative article, in-depth analysis, a mini-documentary, or a well-researched white paper formatted and publicly posted). Make those pieces easy to find on your site or platform. Avoid hiding behind vague claims like “we are disrupting media”—show real deliverables.

4. Audience Building

Platform presence: X/Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Substack, etc.—but always point back to your owned website. Engagement: 80% value, 20% promotion. This means answering questions, sharing insights, and curating—not just fawning over celebrities. Email list / subscriber base: Even 100 subscribers proves you have an audience that opted in.

5. Revenue Model (Optional Early, Essential Later)

Stage 1 (validation): Free content only—prove you can create and attract. Stage 2 (early monetization): Ads, sponsorships, Patreon, or small report sales. Stage 3 (scaling): Paid memberships, books, conferences, consulting.

6. Transparency & Proof of Work

Publish a simple About page with names, credentials, and contact info. Archive your past content (so visitors see you’re building something over time). Share progress updates (“This month we published X pieces, gained Y subscribers”).

7. Scaling Beyond MVP

Once the basics are consistent for at least 6–12 months:

Bring in collaborators or guest writers. Diversify formats (e.g., written + podcast). Formalize revenue streams. Build partnerships with other creators, journalists, or platforms.

Quick Checklist for “Not a Grifter” Status

If you can answer YES to all of these, you’re building a real media company:

Do you have a public website with original content? Can someone outside your circle read/listen/watch at least 3 substantial works you’ve produced? Are you publishing on a regular schedule? Do you have at least a small audience that voluntarily follows you (subscribers, listeners, etc.)? Is your “media company” claim backed by observable output, not just intention?

✅ Bottom line: A minimum viable media company doesn’t require big money or a team—it requires consistency, substance, and public proof. Without those, it’s performance. With them, even a one-person operation can be legitimate.