Episode 10 - The coverage conundrum, and why we all still have a lot of work to do

Media is a difficult industry. It is resource-intensive, extremely high-touch, and requires a constant state of being switched on to developments within sectors of focus. It is even more challenging in an atmosphere where things move faster than in traditional industries, and where the market is in constant flux. 

There is a need to elevate the quality of coverage dedicated to entrepreneurship, and the onus is on startups, investors, and the media. That doesn’t necessarily mean more coverage. There is still progress to be made when it comes to transparency and the willingness to share. Crushing goals, expansions, mistakes, and failures are all an integral part of that narrative. Coverage is a two-way street, and a result of building relationships with the media over time, rather than pelting editors with press releases – something we will be looking at more deeply as we continue to speak with editors and founders alike.

For Episode 10 of our podcast, Khaled and I turn the tables on Zubair Naeem Paracha, founder of MENABytes. We were curious about how a platform, built by one person as a side gig, became one of the few noteworthy media outlets for startups. We dig into his perspective of how coverage of the space has evolved and what founders and their teams, investors, and editors need to do to unlock more value.