BUILDING VIABLE AND SUSTAINABLE INDEPENDENT MEDIA
I build
stories
of value.
Storytelling isn't a communications function. It's a core leadership skill, and most leaders make the mistake of outsourcing it.I've spent 30 years building stories that made money across the Asia Pacific, from Nickelodeon and Paramount to founders, IP owners and media personalities building direct audiences instead of renting attention from a platform. The modern economy demands a new skillset: live delivery, improvisation, and a higher appetite for risk.I work with founders, leaders and creators who know everyone has a story, few know how to tell it. I build the formats, the capability, and the distribution model that delivers value.
Ben Richardson built his career in chaos media. Live, raw and unscripted.
APAC
AUSTRALIA, KOREA, JAPAN, INDIA, NEW ZEALAND, INDONESIA, THAILAND
10,000+
HOURS OF PRODUCED BROADCAST TV, FILM, PRINT, FORMATS, DOCUMENTARY
SUSTAIN
SUBSCRIPTIONS, LICENSING, IP, DISTRIBUTION, LIVE, INSTALLED, DIGITAL, AND TICKETED
01 | AUTHORITY
Has led global brands and built value around
stories.
Ben Richardson has led some of global entertainment's biggest brands, turning fandom into value. Across screens, audio, events, licenses and apps
Every story is a brand in waiting
02 | ABOUT
When everyone is a media owner then you need to learn the
rules
Anyone speaking to an audience is now competing with infinite, synthetic content. I work with creators, journalists, founders and leaders who understand that trust and attention can't be outsourced, they're earned through direct relationships, not rented from a platform. No two stories are the same, so no two narrative formats should be either.
Everyone is media
Everyone now has the reach of a publisher. Few have the discipline to act like one.
Content is infinite
AI will dominate the middle and the mundane. Scarcity sits with what's weird, messy and human.
Engagement beats reach
Saves, shares and comments matter more than follower counts. Stories need to be specialised.
Regional value
Asia is the economic, demographic and cultural hub of the world. We need to be paying attention.
Diversify
Independent media operators need at least five sources of distribution and income, with a pathway to more
Cultural
New media platforms demand cultural fluency. You need to be able to talk about more than your product.
Storytelling is a core capability, to be owned and prioritised
03 | THE CONSULTANCY
Built for people with something
to say
Ben is a senior media operator who traverses both legacy media and the creator economy building strategy, narrative formats.He specialises in owned media - newsletter ecosystems, podcasts, ticketed and licensed.
Media creators wanting to build independent models
I help you shift from platform-dependent distribution to operating systems and revenue models you control. Built around your strengths, not a template.
Founders who need to establish narrative presence
You have a story, you don't have a format. I build the narrative architecture and distribution plan and train the narrator.
Government agencies trying to tell regional stories
National stories are essential for economic growth. Stories of distinction and beauty drive inquiry and value.
Leadership teams and boards who need to turn expertise into authority
Being right isn't being heard. Great stories, well told drive irrational value.
"Interesting things happen to people who can tell interesting stories about themselves."
Michael Lewis
04 | THE METHOD
I build viable and sustainable
independent media
Faced with infinite choice when building your narrative ecosystem. We build a personalised story framework, optimised for your strengths and preferences
HOW WE WORK
001 - AUDIT AND DIAGNOSIS
Audit your existing story and identify gaps across strategy documents, mission statements, public communications and competitor positioning. The output is a Narrative IQ© scorecard – a five dimensional assessment
002 - FORMAT DESIGN
Just as television has built formats, stories that travel globally and are consistent and recognisable in all applications, we build story formats. These are teachable, repeatable, personalised frameworks that hold their form across every environment. A core component of this stage is the development of an updated risk framework.
003 - PERFORMANCE
In the attention economy, the winners are the individuals who entertain. This isn’t about comedy or drama but the ability to hold attention, be memorable and quotable. Communication is longform, all topics can be tabled and leaders need to be prepared to be human.
A KEY CONTRIBUTOR MODEL
I run a key contributor model personalised for each engagement. I draw upon expert practitioners who have delivered measureable results across social, marketing, training and communication.
05 | Contact
Make your story impossible
to ignore
Bring Ben in when you need to sharpen your story and built a strategy that can travel
Or reach us at [email protected]