Erin Pursell at work on her Capstone
The Capstone is the culmination of the Master of Science in Publishing program at NYU. This is our graduate thesis, and we are asked to write a complete business plan for a new media venture. Students have created plans for new book imprints, magazine brands and content-rich websites, and a few have gone on to seek funding in the hopes of launching a successful business. (In fact, we are encouraged to do so.) On day one of the Capstone class last fall, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Knowing the scope of the task that lay ahead, I felt a little uneasy, not quite ready for the process to begin. A recent graduate of the program was there to talk about her own experience with the Capstone project. She discussed finding a study buddy, staying focused, and getting started immediately. As I tried to figure out exactly how much work was ahead of me, she began explaining her study regimen: a private room in the library, booked four days a week for several hours each day, all semester. My eyes widened. Four days a week? Who has that kind of time? Her final paper was passed around the room, and I thumbed through the weighty forty plus pages. How was I ever going to get this done? Read the rest of this entry »
