Ryan Nakashima thrives on creating a digital-driven future

Editor's Inbox | 19 December 2022

By Paula Felps

Ideas Blog Editor

INMA

Nashville, Tennessee, United States

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Editor’s note: In an ongoing series, INMA is profiling our most engaged members — our super fans. At a time when we have less face-to-face time, we hope this gives members a chance to learn more about each other. Today we profile Ryan Nakashima, director/product management, subscriptions for Hearst Newspapers in San Jose, California, in the United States.

If he had it to do over again, Ryan Nakashima, director/product management, subscriptions for Hearst Newspapers in San Jose, California, in the United States, said he wouldn’t change a thing: “I have really enjoyed my career — the first half as a journalist in many cities in three countries — and now I’m starting my second as a business/product type helping support working journalists in the field.”

As a former AP technology writer covering Artificial Intelligence, machine learning, cryptocurrencies, and Google, he is interested in how the digital world has merged with the traditional news media industry.

Being part of the tech transformation within the industry keeps him excited, and Nakashima revels in “knowing that I can help the newspaper business turn the corner and thrive in a future that is digital,” he said. He envisions a future “where we make use of new technology, not try to live in the past” — and is eager to see where it takes us.

INMA recently caught up with Nakashima to learn more about him.

As director, product management, subscriptions for Hearst Newspapers in San Jose, California, U.S., Ryan Nakashima takes chances and fights for what he believes in.

INMA: What big lesson have you learned over the past couple of years that helped shape your plans for 2022?

Nakashima: That growing known users is the key to growing the digital subscription business. And that having people in key roles to navigate the product space between developers and marketing people on the business side is very important.

INMA: What is the craziest job or project you’ve ever done in media — and what did you learn from it?

Nakashima: I think it was said by someone smart that all good ideas are crazy until they’re not. There are three I count as among the most impactful: ad-free subscriptions (now on 51 sites); group/sponsored subscriptions (a growing business we created from scratch following the lead of others in the industry and have now hired for); and geotagged news (which has yet to have its day in the sun, but it will, I’m sure of it!).

INMA: What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your career?

Nakashima: Be fearless and take chances and fight for what you believe in. It’s when you’re out on the ledge dancing that you are most effective.

INMA: What do you do to relax?

Nakashima: A long afternoon nap on a weekend is pretty amazing if you can manage it!

INMA: If you hadn’t gone into news media, what was your backup plan?

Nakashima: I didn’t have a backup. It was do or die. That’s the best way to approach anything, I think!

INMA: What is your favourite thing to read?

Nakashima: I’m reading a book right now called The Every. It imagines a world where, basically, Facebook/Meta, Google, and Amazon have all merged. Pretty chilling and will be fun to get through it.

INMA: What do you find the most challenging/interesting about the news media industry right now?

Nakashima: There are skill and knowledge gaps and differing levels all throughout the industry and the enterprise. It’s really interesting and challenging to be a teacher and a learner at every step of the way.