How Are Creator Journalists Reaching Audiences Traditional Media Miss? - Nieman Reports Liz Kelly Nelson, founder of Project C, on Gen Z news habits, platform-driven journalism, and why independent voices are gaining ground.

How Are Creator Journalists Reaching Audiences Traditional Media Miss?

@lizkellynelson.com founder of Project C, on Gen Z news habits, platform-driven journalism, and why independent voices are gaining ground.

niemanreports.org/liz-kelly-ne...

In Perugia for #IJF26? Join @bankonjustin.com, @lni.media's @davejorgenson.bsky.social, @cnti.bsky.social's Amy Mitchell and @codeforafrica.bsky.social's @justinarenstein.bsky.social at 5p Thursday to talk about the future!

The Chicago filmmaker who couldn't sleep Andrew Freer has been documenting ICE operations in Chicago and Minneapolis since last fall. He's running out of money to keep going.

Appreciated speaking with @lizkellynelson.com (Project C) about our work so far and our goals for the future - holding the government accountable through human-centered video journalism. Thank you for supporting our efforts. Read the full article here: newsletter.projectc.biz/p/the-chicag...

Someone just signed up for the Creator Journalist Bundle! For $15/month, you can get it, too, and grow your reader-funded publication this year with us. https://projectc.beehiiv.com/upgrade

Howtown The "How Do They Know" show from journalists Adam Cole and Joss Fong. You may have seen our work with Vox, NPR's Skunk Bear, and Netflix "Explained". Now we've left those jobs and work directly for y...

Thanks for the amplification, @jayrosen.bsky.social - and everyone should check out Joss and Adam’s channel: youtube.com/@howtown?si=...

@lizkellynelson.com: “The next 18 months will determine whether creator journalism develops sustainably—with standards, fair partnerships, and editorial independence protected—or tumbles headlong into the exploitative dynamics of the broader influencer economy.”

www.niemanlab.org/2025/12/the-...

You love to see it. Journalism creators supporting journalism creators.

How creator journalists can assess — and disclose — their funding Independent journalists don't have teams who can evaluate potential funders. So what can creators do to ensure a funder is ethically aligned?

“Independent journalists usually don’t have teams who can evaluate potential funders. So what can you do to ensure a funder is ethically aligned?” @lizkellynelson.com of Project C & Mollie Muchna of @trustingnews.bsky.social share tips for assessing funders + funder disclosures for creators.

Why philanthropy should back creator-model journalism Independent, audience-rooted creators are already reporting on their communities. Here's how funders can invest in them.

Creator journalists are already beginning to play a key role in reaching diverse audiences. But “without intentional investment,” writes @lizkellynelson.com, “many of these voices risk fading just as they are beginning to prove their value to the wider information ecosystem.”

Another day and more cuts as we hit peak journalism layoff season. Join Project C on Nov. 24th at 1 p.m. ET for a live session with real working indie journos to explore whether the creator economy path is right for you. luma.com/lcbckl7j

Is indie journalism right for me? An interactive session for recently laid off journalists · Luma THIS EVENT IS OPEN TO RECENTLY LAID OFF JOURNALISTS Is indie journalism right for me? Let's talk about it. If you've been recently laid off, you're probably…

If you were affected by the @teenvogue.com layoffs – or any other newsroom layoffs – join me, @lexroman.com and members of the Project C community for this free session on Nov. 24th: luma.com/lcbckl7j

Is indie journalism right for me? An interactive session for recently laid off journalists · Luma THIS EVENT IS OPEN TO RECENTLY LAID OFF JOURNALISTS Is indie journalism right for me? Let's talk about it. If you've been recently laid off, you're probably…

So sorry Lex. Hope you can make this session: luma.com/lcbckl7j

Creators were the disruption. Now they’re geting the big media deals. Plus: Trust in media drops, an LA Times writer goes solo, cool things to do!

It's Friday. Lots of links and a few thoughts about trad media's rush to lock down big-name creator-model journos.

Amber Sherman, MLK50 & the experiment every newsroom should watch How one Memphis creator turned her community-driven explainer videos into a newsroom partnership model worth replicating

If you don't know @aisforafro.bsky.social's work, you should. Read all about her partnership with @mlk50.com then smash that Follow button on both!
newsletter.projectc.biz/p/amber-sher...

Paramount Buys Bari Weiss’s the Free Press for $150 Million Weiss, who once said she was done with legacy media, is to take control of CBS News’s editorial vision, aiming for “news that reflects reality.”

I abhor hot takes, yet I have one: What is being termed a “creator success story” by many is really a re-absorption into the same structures independent creators seek to escape. Thoughts? www.wsj.com/business/med...

Going Solo Open House! · Zoom · Luma Join Going Solo instructors Blair Hickman, Liz Kelly Nelson, Caitlin Dewey and Lex Roman to find out more about the next Going Solo creator journalism…

There’s a few spots left in our “Going Solo” 8 week accelerator for journalists going independent. We begin October 2.

Come to our open house today and learn more!

luma.com/xlyzgbuh

🌍 What’s Next: Global 'Creator-model Journalists to Watch' lists Plus: Silencing dissent Is the strategy. Independent voices are the solution

We’re thrilled to partner with @lizkellynelson.com's Project C to map the news creators currently transforming the global media landscape! Learn more about this initiative, and let us know who your favorite news creators are: newsletter.projectc.biz/p/what-s-nex...

Someone just signed up for the Creator Journalist Bundle! For $15/month, you can get it, too, and grow your reader-funded publication this year with us. https://projectc.beehiiv.com/upgrade

Going Solo logo and QR code

Registration for the fall Going Solo cohort is open and we're already half full. If you're thinking about a solo journalism career, join us and the alumni who have already launched independent projects after going through the workshop! projectc.biz/going-solo

Someone just signed up for the Creator Journalist Bundle! For $15/month, you can get it, too, and grow your reader-funded publication this year with us. https://projectc.beehiiv.com/upgrade

The Golden Hour by Karen Attiah | Substack On writing, fighting, and beauty in dark times. Click to read The Golden Hour by Karen Attiah, a Substack publication with tens of thousands of subscribers.

Also, I will be writing on Substack-- please consider subscribing, and supporting my writing and video work there.

karenattiah.substack.com

Images from ONA25 in New Orleans

If you missed #ONA25 last week, you missed a BIG moment for creator-model journalism - click through for insights from @caitlindewey.bsky.social @adrianalacy.com @lni.media and more! newsletter.projectc.biz/p/the-massiv...

Someone just signed up for the Creator Journalist Bundle! For $15/month, you can get it, too, and grow your reader-funded publication this year with us. https://projectc.beehiiv.com/upgrade

Welcome to the new new media! I take a close look at Project C’s — that’s @lizkellynelson.com and @lexroman.com — Back Indie Media Drive, a collaborative case study in growth outside a venture-backed platform’s walled garden. That includes me. And you. Vroom vroom! 🏎️ 💨

Opinion | Stop Acting Like This Is Normal

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/07/o...

Heading to #ONA25 next week? Join me, @mattkiser.bsky.social @caitlindewey.bsky.social and Kiran Chawla to find out how they got their starts - and are making a sustainable career - as independent creator journalists. ona25.journalists.org/schedule/

Someone just signed up for the Creator Journalist Bundle! For $15/month, you can get it, too, and grow your reader-funded publication this year with us. https://projectc.beehiiv.com/upgrade

Someone just signed up for the Creator Journalist Bundle! For $15/month, you can get it, too, and grow your reader-funded publication this year with us. https://projectc.beehiiv.com/upgrade

Thank you so much! Always a blast teaming up with @lexroman.com!

Someone just signed up for the Creator Journalist Bundle! For $15/month, you can get it, too, and grow your reader-funded publication this year with us. https://projectc.beehiiv.com/upgrade