Lauren Adams

Profile on Erik Best “The problem with mass media is that it’s made for the masses.” This is Czech publisher Erik Best’s opinion on journalism in the 21st century, as he and his small publishing company attempt to take on the masses by providing a new creative style of reporting. Best was born in 1962 in North Carolina from there his family moved to Montana. His first stab at reporting was as a sports journalist for a small newspaper in Montana at age 16. From there he knew that reporting wasn’t going to be his calling and he began to expand his now extensive resume. After graduating from Georgetown University, getting an MBA and a masters in the Russian language, Best was ready for a new challenge. He found Prague in February of 1992 and began publishing the Fleet Sheet, a comprehensive daily fact sheet that covers the most important business, political and cultural stories circulating Prague. At the time Best believed that this venture would be short, running only 5-6 years, but the demand for his product from not only Americans living in Prague but also Czech’s themselves, has allowed Best to publish his product for the last 20 years. A fee is required for subscription but Best still has over 6,500 subscribers to the Fleet Sheet. He targets an audience that is more educated and informed about the surrounding environment, many of the major companies in Prague subscribe to his cheat sheet. Recently Best and his publishing company have also added a free product that people can subscribe to via email. All though he does not have many subscribers this product is widely known throughout Prague. Overall Best’s shift from American journalist to Prague publisher seems to have worked out well for the business owner, as his business continues to grow here in Prague.