About Business Hard TalkWe need an alternative media channel that looks at matters in a more independent, fair and balanced way. In healthy societies informed public pressure ensures government, and other institutions, are held to account. That requires a certain kind of journalism which has largely been killed off. Business Hard Talk will provide a platform for writers who wish to focus on investigative journalism, and readers that wish to be well informed.Business Hard TalkBHT_b5bbc684-1b72-11e6-a78b-8011487ab66bPaul BarnettFounder & CEOJournalistsWith very few exceptions, journalists completely failed to spot the causes of the global economic crisis which had catastrophic consequences. In fact, they were also one of the causes of it. They fuelled the hype, failed to investigate wrong doing, and failed to hold directors, regulators and politicians to account in any meaningful way. Why? Because they are themselves businesses primarily interested in making a profit. Real Journalism takes time and costs money. Spinning stories pushed at them as press releases is far easier, faster and cheaper. And what is the point of investigating for long-form articles when column inches get ever shorter, to provide more space for advertising in the pursuit of yet more profit.Media BaronsAlso of concern is the issue of the political bias of the media barons, a feature of the media that undermines its role in a healthy democracy.WritersReadersNews MediaThe existing media will argue we are crazy. They justify what they do by telling us that articles are shorter because that is what readers want. They tell us we have no interest in reading in-depth so, they are merely responding to the market. I say that is a convenient excuse for their profit seeking actions.New Editors"Off the record" a number of editors have admitted this to me. ... government, and other institutions, are held to account. _b5bbc792-1b72-11e6-a78b-8011487ab66bTo provide a platform for writers who wish to focus on investigative journalism, and readers that wish to be well informed._b5bbc828-1b72-11e6-a78b-8011487ab66bGoalsOf course, we need to have a robust and sustainable business model if we are to achieve our goals.BusinessGuaranteesBut we are not primarily profit focused. We will operate as a company limited by guarantee, and under a charter that puts the interests of our readers first.OpennessWe will also be open, transparent and accountable.TransparencyAccountabilityCrowd FundingOur start will be crowd funded. We will then sustain ourselves by generating income from a mix of subscriptions, events and courses.IndependenceTo retain independence we will refuse advertising or large donations.IntegrityCarefully designed rules will govern the policies regarding sponsorship or partnership arrangements, so that our integrity is not undermined.ArticlesOffer articles in bite-sized chunks._b5bbc8aa-1b72-11e6-a78b-8011487ab66b1The answer is not long or short articles. The answer is both. If you have written a long-form article you can easily offer it in bite-sized chunks. That is what we will do._b5bbc986-1b72-11e6-a78b-8011487ab66bEventsHost events to help readers become as informed as they wish to be._b5bbca12-1b72-11e6-a78b-8011487ab66b2Events are not only a part of our business model, they are also a key part of our value proposition. The big issues we write about need to be discussed. Events will help readers become as informed as they wish to be._b5bbca9e-1b72-11e6-a78b-8011487ab66b2016-05-16http://www.businesshardtalk.com/#!about/cjg9OwenAmburOwen.Ambur@verizon.net