Eric Beecher and Di Gribble – Private Media Partners
When Eric Beecher first told me of his plans to launch a 24/7 free online version of The Australian Financial Review, his conversation rippled with excitement. Here was a man skilled and crafted by Fairfax Media and News Ltd, throwing down the gauntlet to the "old firm" by daring to establish a "new media" outlet called The Business Spectator. And what a beauty she is. Within days News Ltd responded with a lunchtime The Australian Business Briefing email newsletter featuring breaking views – and within weeks, the AFR.com website opened itself to limited "glasnost". Beecher and Di Gribble formed Private Media Partners in 2003 when they sold their previous start-up, Text Media, to Fairfax. Last month he was presented the Walkley award for Journalistic Leadership for his "ongoing entrepreneurialism and his commitment to innovation and investment in the future of quality journalism". Eric and Di are my idols for 2007.
Nominated by: Terence Maher
* Eric Beecher and Di Gribble are part-owners of SmartCompany.com.au.
More SmartCompany Idols:
Alexandra Smart – Ginger & Smart , Alison Dean – The Peppermint Group , Angela Sands – Vive 8 , Ben Keighran – Bluepulse , Chris Kettle – My247 , Craig Reardon – The E Team , David Graham – Farmer Dave Lamb , Dean Coates – Fleetmark , Donald John Trump – Trump Organisation , Emma Brown – Business Chicks , Eric Beecher & Di Gribble – Private Media Partners , Ewan Parsons – Open energy , Father Michael Kelly – Church Resources , Frank Colli – Leading Solutions , Greg Muller – iFocus , Jaimie Fuller – Skins Bio Acceleration garments , Jeff Bonnes – Find A Babysitter.com.au , Jeremy Levitt – Podproperty , Jim Penman – Jim's Group , Jo Wallace – Rubystar PR , Katherine Sampson – Healthy Habits , Kirsty Dunphey – www.reallysold.com , Kym Illman – The Message Group , Louise Broekman – HR Coach , Marc Carr – Mobile Data Group , Mark Alexander-Erber – Pubboy , Matt Bullock – eWAY , Michael Malone – iiNet , Mihiri Udabage – Generation Wonder , Michael Browne – Datacom Australia , Naomi Simson – Red Balloon Days , Neil Bolton – Recruitment Systems , Nick Verykios – Distribution Central , Pauline Michael – Skin Day Spa , Pierce Cody – Macro Wholefoods Ralph Edwards – Bright Eyes Sunglasses , Rob Levison – Industrea , Rowan Isaacs – Creative Promotions , Seth Watts – New Litho , Sharon O'Malley – O'Malley & Co , Shelley Barrett – ModelCo , Stan Perron – Stan Perron , Steve Loe – Precedent Productions , Tina Tower – Reach Education , Todd Wright – TRW Projects , Val Whitton – Fleetwash Industrial Systems , Vickie Burkinshaw – changemaker , Warwick Williams – Warwick Williams Real Estate , Wayne Kayler- Thomson – VECCI , Wendy Moore – Affluencia.