Toward that end, dozens of newspapers across the U.S. have partnered with One Day University, an organization that arranges for nationally recognized instructors from colleges and universities to teach one-day courses about a range of topics, catering to adults who love learning -- “like fantasy camp for the academic minded,” as the company describes itself.
The program emphasizes the high quality of its teachers, according to founder Steven Schragis: “All of our speakers are renowned for their great teaching,” adding the other usual academic credentials don’t matter: “It doesn’t matter if they’re great researchers, or if they’re tenured; these are people who love teaching and are great at it.” Schragis was quick to add that there’s no homework and no tests.
Through its partnership program newspapers can work with One Day University to host co-branded events, sharing the revenues while strengthening their relationship with their most engaged readers. The events also provide a new opportunity for advertisers, who can participate in the courses as sponsors with on-site messages and experiential marketing.
Schragis noted: “Newspaper publishers can reach out to their existing advertisers and give them something new. The audience members are people who live in the local community, and while you might only have 600 to 700 people in the audience, that’s exactly who you want to reach if you’re an auto dealer or financial services.”
The list of newspapers that have partnered with One Day University to host events includes The Wall Street Journal, Boston Globe, Philadelphia Inquirer, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Seattle Times, Dallas Morning News, Arizona Republic, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, San Diego Union Tribune, Miami Herald, and Washington Post, among others.
One Day University was founded in 2006 by Schragis, who previously served as national director of the Learning Annex, as well as CEO of the Citadel Publishing Group and publishing director of Spy Magazine. Schragis runs the program together with his business partner Kevin Brennan, who is managing director."
Related Categories