Michael Shapiro is the CEO and Publisher of TAPinto.net, a network of more than 60 independently owned and operated online local newspapers in New Jersey and New York with over 5.5 million readers. In October 2008, after five years of practicing law in New York City, Shapiro started an online, objective, local daily newspaper for his town, New Providence, as well as the adjoining towns of Summit and Berkeley Heights. He began franchising sites in December 2013 to people who wanted to start online newspapers in their own town.
Michael will talk about the challenges of growing a local news network in a time when the industry is so crowded, the effect of sites like TAPinto on traditional publications, how he scaled to over 5 million people in just a few short years and how he took on the unique business model of franchising a web property; along with lessons in business and tips for our community to learn from.
Before becoming a successful New Jersey entrepreneur, Michael graduated Rutgers College, Rutgers University and Stanford Law School. sign up here:
https://www.meetup.com/Morris-Meetup/events/237745354/