Newsletter

Solution Set: Can creators + journalists = new audiences?

September 17, 2026

Creators working with Get Real News include Ashley King-Riggs, Matt and Jeanette Fotis, and Cheyenne Corin

As news creators on social media become more popular, they are also prone to errors, biases, hidden agendas, and secret funding (hence the need for the Creator Journalist Trust Framework). But what if there was a way to combine creators and journalists to create more fact-based reports told through the personalities on social media? That’s the aim of a new startup, Get Real News, founded by Heidi Przybyla, a veteran Washington correspondent who won a Polk Award and was a Pulitzer finalist.

“What we do is match creators with the things they’re interested in and we give them the facts,” Przybyla explained in a recent profile story. She found that creators who focus on lifestyle content are often interested in covering more consequential issues. “They want to also be trusted messengers in their community for important information.”

Pennsylvania is the proving ground, where the group’s “Pennsylvania Reals” project paired local creators with journalists to produce short-form videos on everything from data centers to local history. Since launching in November 2025, it has produced nearly 200 videos with 21 creators, growing its audience by about 1,600 Pennsylvanians a month. The model is still young and not yet profitable, but Przybyla is exploring how to turn its growing audience relationships into sustainable revenue.

Here’s how Get Real News works:

The Creator Desk is the “nerve center” connecting journalists and creators, functioning like a modern newsroom assignment desk.
Get Real starts by asking creators what they care about and matches those interests with relevant news, while journalistic responsibility for accuracy and balance stays with Get Real.
Get Real builds social channels around local information and culture, then works with newsrooms and other partners on sustained news series around issues that matter to those communities.
The org is currently fiscally sponsored and relies on philanthropy and consulting revenue, with a long-term goal of diversified revenue including sponsored content, brand partnerships, and newsletters. It’s developing tiered advertiser sponsorship packages built around content series.

“[We] provide advertisers with access to a high-value regional audience, while ensuring our creator partners receive an equitable cut of the revenue under agreements that protect our editorial independence,” Przybyla said.

🧠 Brain food: insights from the field

What 20 early-stage creator journalists learned this summer by Liz Kelly Nelson at Project C

“This summer we ran the first Journalism Creators Startup Lab with the support of the Google News Initiative: eight weeks of instruction and coaching with 20 participants across North America plus sustained coaching…The cohort took full advantage of the summer and used the time, coaching, and workshops to build real parts of their business – including new strategies, sponsorship decks, newsletters, websites, vertical video channels, disclosure language, safety plans, contract templates, and so much more.”

How one newsletter writer is building a subscription business when “paywalls don’t really work” by Sarah Scire at Nieman Lab

“Building a paid subscriber base is a grind. I don’t mean that it is a drag or a pain. Just that it is a long process over time. There is no hack…What makes people really pay isn’t any one piece. It’s them falling in love with what they are reading. Believing in the mission. Caring about the coverage. Appreciating the voice and style and breadth. They want to ensure the publication stays afloat. Maybe even thrive.” — David Covucci, founder of FOIAball

How Daily Memphian CEO Eric Barnes grew a robust nonprofit news outlet with a paywall and base of loyal subscribers by Tim Franklin at Northwestern Medill Local News Initiative

“We’re 50% subscriptions, 25% advertising and events, and 25% philanthropy. I’m sometimes surprised more people haven’t pursued that mix. Certainly, The Baltimore Banner has. There are some other really good examples. But when you say nonprofit, in our world, people think, ‘Oh, okay, you’re selling T-shirts and you’re going to the foundations and you’re doing reader drives.’ That’s a tough go, building a newsroom of 40 people and all the other things that go into building a news site.” — Eric Barnes, CEO of the Daily Memphian

Grants & Fellowships: bring in the 💰

Grants

Food and Farming Storytelling Fund from Sentient Media – Sentient will fund reporting on factory farming by supporting the journalists, creators, and communicators already working to bring these stories to their communities. Over the next two years, the Food and Farming Storytelling Fund will distribute $360,000 in direct grants to storytellers covering food and agriculture. The fund is made possible thanks to a grant from the Santa Barbara Foundation. Register your interest here.

Solitary Confinement Reporting Grants from Solitary Watch – Solitary Watch is offering grants to journalists and nonprofit newsrooms working in all media with the goal of expanding public awareness and understanding of solitary confinement in U.S. federal and state prisons, local and tribal jails, immigration detention centers, and juvenile justice facilities. Grants range from $1,000 to $3,000. Apply by October 31.
Data Journalism Grants from The Pulitzer Center – The Center is looking for proposals that will employ cutting-edge data techniques, as well as embrace collaboration among newsrooms, whether that be across state lines or across national borders. They encourage proposals that push the envelope in data collection and analysis and make use of advanced data mining techniques, such as machine learning, natural language processing, as well as spatial data analysis, satellite imagery, drones, and sensors. Applications accepted on a rolling basis.
Fund for Indigenous Journalists from International Women’s Media Foundation – The Fund’s Indigenous Journalists & Allies: Reporting on Missing & Murdered People/Women, Girls, Two-Spirit, Transgender People (MMIP/WG2T) initiative directly supports Indigenous journalists’ and allies’ reporting on the violence that targets members of Indigenous nations, both on sovereign ground and in urban settings in the U.S. Indigenous and non-Indigenous journalists of all genders affiliated with media outlets, as well as freelancers, are invited to apply. Applications accepted on a rolling basis.
Fault Lines Reporting Fund from International Women’s Media Foundation – Supports journalists reporting on the forces driving racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia, misogyny, and other forms of intolerance. Successful applications will examine how false, divisive, and harmful narratives take hold, including what is fueling them, where they are most pronounced, the scope of their impact, and where progress is made in combating hate-based agendas. Grant awards range from $2,500 to $10,000. Applications accepted on a rolling basis.
Reporting Grants from Sidney Hillman Foundation – Grants support ambitious, timely, under-covered stories about the U.S workplace. The grants are part of the foundation’s efforts to improve coverage of working people, union organizing, and the workplace. They are also intended to help support freelance reporters. Grants are up to $5,000 and are intended to cover the costs of reporting these vital stories, such as travel and related expenses. Applications accepted on a rolling basis.
Collaborative Operating Models Program from the Public Media Bridge Fund – The first open call under the Sustainability Program focuses on advancing collaborative operating models across the public media system. The purpose of this initiative is to implement new operating and collaborative structures that strengthen the long-term sustainability of public media organizations. Investments up to $500,000 include grants, low-interest loans, and advisory services. Applications accepted on a rolling basis.

Special opportunity

Apply to Host a Report for America Corps Member – Report for America places talented journalists with host newsrooms, covers a portion of each journalist’s salary for an initial two-year commitment with the option to renew for a third year, and provides training support to both the newsroom and the corps member. The organization is now accepting applications from newsrooms seeking to host a corps member starting in July 2027. Apply by October 19.

Fellowships

Brain Health Reporting Fellowship from Poynter – A year-long fellowship designed to help journalists strengthen their reporting on brain health, neuroscience, and scientific research. It will bring together 30 journalists from across the country for advanced training, personalized coaching, and direct access to leading journalists, researchers, and medical experts. The program begins in December 2026 with a three-day convening at Poynter’s campus followed by monthly virtual workshops and individualized coaching throughout 2027. Fellows receive a $3,000 stipend. Apply by September 22.

Tech Policy Press Fellowship – Tech Policy Press will support fellows pursuing independent reporting and analysis that explore urgent questions at the intersection of technology and democracy. The year-long, part-time fellowship, starting January 2027, is designed to support mid-career journalists, researchers, and public policy professionals. They welcome a wide range of contributions, from original reporting to policy analysis. There is a $10,000 stipend. Apply by September 24.
Berlin Prize Fellowship from the American Academy in Berlin – The Academy welcomes applications from a broad range of disciplines in the humanities, social sciences, law, journalism, and various areas of public policy. They encourage projects that address pressing issues of the day, such as democracy, security, technology, and society (especially AI). Fellows receive monthly stipends of $5,000, round-trip airfare, and accommodation at or near the Hans Arnhold Center. Apply by September 25.
Wilson Center Research Fellowship Program – The Wilson Center invites scholars, practitioners, journalists, and public intellectuals to take part in its flagship Research Fellowship Program. Fellows conduct research and write in their areas of interest, while interacting with policymakers in Washington and other fellows. The Center pays a stipend of $10,000 per month, and the program runs from June 1, 2027 to May 30, 2028. Apply by September 30.
Alicia Patterson Fellowships from the Fund for Investigative Reporting – The fellowships are for established freelance journalists (or journalists employed part-time by a news outlet) who have already published a body of work. The fellowships support investigative reporting on all topics with a strong U.S. focus. The fellowships were started in 1960 in honor of Alicia Patterson, the founding editor of Newsday and the first woman to run a major U.S. newspaper. The fellowships pay $40,000 for a 12-month investigation or $20,000 for a six-month investigation. Apply by October 1.
Work//Shift Fellowship from Research to Impact Lab – The fellowship, a program of the Center for Cultural Innovation, is looking for people who are thinking deeply about the future of work. It’s designed around inquiry, collaboration, and developing new ideas with people from different fields. Selected fellows receive $30,000 for a 12-month fellowship beginning in January 2027. The commitment is about 10 hours a month, with two in-person gatherings. Apply by October 26.

Training: upskill FTW 🎓

Steal My Workflow: A short-form video workshop series from The Lenfest Institute and Video Consortium, Six Thursdays from September 17 to October 22 – Learn how expert producers make short-form video journalism that hits, from the first spark of an idea to the moment you press publish. Come for real talk, real workflows, and real secrets across every stage of the pipeline: strategy, scripting, hosting, filming, and editing. The six-part series will cover high-level strategy to filming on a phone, from techniques that elevate your look for quick turns to keeping things punchy in the script. Open to every experience level.
Engineering Serendipity: A smarter way to meet funders from the Lenfest News Philanthropy Network, Three Tuesdays from September 22 to October 6 at 2 pm EDT – “Engineering Serendipity” replaces the panic of transactional fundraising with a relational strategy, teaching attendees to view funders as humans first while using rigorous preparation to ensure connection happens. LOOKOUT News Executive Director Jake Hylton will help participants move past the elevator pitch and into the mechanics of the approach, including: how to build a pre-conference dossier using digital tools, why memorizing headshots is your secret weapon, and the counter-intuitive rules of engagement.
Power of Diverse Voices: Writing Workshop for Journalists of Color from Poynter, November 10-13 in St. Petersburg, Fla. – This free workshop (with some travel support) celebrates its 10th anniversary at Poynter by helping journalists of color harness the power of their voice through four intensive days of immersive learning. Develop confidence and skills to share your unique perspective, build professional networks, and address the underrepresentation of diverse voices in opinion journalism. Apply by September 18.
How collaboratives can work with student journalists from the Collaborative Journalism Resource Hub, September 22 at 1 pm EDT – Hear how four collaboratives work with student journalists and learn ways they can contribute to yours. Student journalists can be important partners in journalism collaboratives. They can be mentored and learn professional development while working alongside full-time career journalists. The collaborative benefits from having additional resources and fresh perspectives and can build authentic relationships with a demographic with different needs than other generational news consumers.
Urban Solutions Journalism Academy from parCitypatory, September 24 at 11 am EDT – In this interactive 1.5-hour workshop, you will learn how to write about cities in a solutions-focused way and how to find stories. How can we tell better stories about cities that not only highlight challenges, but also examine responses that are working? This workshop introduces the principles of solutions journalism and explores how they can be applied to urban issues such as housing, climate adaptation, mobility, public space, and social inclusion.
Peer Learning Groups from LION Publishers, Monthly meetings from October to December – Build community, learn from your peers, and share your knowledge with others through LION’s four peer groups: 1) building sustainable newsrooms with lean teams, led by Julie Hancher of Green Philly; 2) Hispanic/Latino news leaders, led by Diana Oliveros of Se Habla Media; 3) newsrooms serving rural communities, led by Alek Haak-Frost of Watershed Voice; 4) publishers serving immigrant and minority communities, led by Suresh Shahi of Khasokhas. You don’t have to be a LION member. Apply by September 25.
DataTalk campaign finance data training from Big Local News, September 30 and October 7 – DataTalk is a reporting tool from Big Local News that makes federal campaign-finance data searchable in plain English, allowing reporters to ask questions like “Which races in my state are getting the most out-of-state money?” or “Who’s spending campaign funds on travel and fancy restaurants?” DataTalk queries the latest FEC data and gives you results you can download — showing its work along the way with code and links you can cite and verify. Ahead of election season, Big Local News is hosting two free trainings: Intro to DataTalk on September 30 and Finding Stories in Campaign-Finance Data on October 7.
The biz basics of video creator journalism from Video Consortium, October 7, 14, and 20 at 1 pm EDT – Today’s video journalists are being asked to do it all: report, produce, build an audience, navigate platforms, follow trends, find revenue, and think like business owners. In this three-part series from Video Consortium, explore what it actually takes to build a sustainable career around video creator journalism, from revenue models and sponsorships to brand integrations and everything in between.
Beat Academy: Covering the rising risk of flooding from Poynter, October 8 – Get ahead of the next flood story with Poynter’s Beat Academy. In this free, 75-minute webinar, Poynter faculty and journalists experienced in data-driven flood coverage will show local, state, and regional reporters how to identify communities at risk, find and use reliable flood data, and prepare coverage before disaster strikes.
Propel Regional Training from the Maynard Institute, October 22-24 in Burbank, Calif. – The second training round of the Propel Regional Training Series is in partnership with California State University at Northridge and will convene at the Los Angeles Burbank Marriott Airport Hotel. This training is for California-based early- and mid-career editors and managers, focusing on the tools and frameworks needed to succeed in their newsrooms and careers. The training is free, and there is limited, needs-based travel assistance. Register by October 14.
Covering Immigration with Care: A Mental Health Reporting Project Webinar from Poynter, October 21 at noon EDT – Learn how to report on the effects of immigration on mental health with greater context, accuracy, and care. This free webinar explores trauma-informed interviewing, ethical storytelling, and practical reporting strategies. Learn how to connect individual stories to policy, services, and support systems, and hear from experienced journalists covering immigration.
AI for Product: Are You AI-Exposed? from the Local Media Association, November 10 at 2 pm EST; free for LMA members; $29 for non-members -Artificial intelligence creates many opportunities for news innovation. But AI also exposes news organizations to many new risks. In this essential session, Jon Accarrino, founder of ORDO Digital, walks news leaders through the key privacy and security risks news organizations face both from using AI and from having their content used by AI, including a security and tools checklist.

Support: Get the help you need ☎️

Where to look for funding for your newsroom internship program by Eden Dinneen at RJI – RJI worked with Street Sense Media to find varied funding to make its internship program more sustainable. They tried to find more funding opportunities and prepared Street Sense for pitching its program. The guide includes templates and resources for others.
Evidence-based election coverage: A guide for journalists from SciLine – SciLine offers reporting resources to help journalists step back from political back-and-forth and show voters what evidence-based research can tell us about the biggest issues at stake in the midterm elections. They will be adding more resources throughout the 2026 midterm election season.
Emergency Mode for News from OpenNews, Newspack, and NC Local – The resource equips local journalists and their newsrooms with the tools they need to respond to climate disasters. With a disaster reporting action pack, software, and a learning community, Emergency Mode is designed to help journalists act nimbly and creatively to serve their communities when the unexpected happens.
Local News Research Hub from Rebuild Local News and Syracuse University – Access a curated collection of studies that show how the decline of local news affects communities and the solutions emerging across the country. Building on Democracy Fund’s literature review, the Hub collates and regularly updates the evidence base to guide more targeted investments and policy interventions that support the local news ecosystem.
The Lenfest Expert Network from The Lenfest Institute – The Expert Network connects local news organizations with experienced consultants who provide pro bono hands-on support to strengthen sustainability, audience engagement, and digital transformation for short-term consulting engagements lasting one to six months. Interested in joining an upcoming consulting round? Sign up for office hours here.

Events: learn and network 📅

Journalism & Women’s Symposium (JAWS) CAMP , October 2-4 in Santa Monica, Calif. – Brings women and nonbinary journalists together from different specialties, beats, demographics, and geographies to share with, learn from, and empower each other.
Mental Health in Journalism Summit from The Self-Investigation, October 6-9 online – An open, collaborative, and global conversation about what care looks like when it’s built into the structures of journalism work.
Audience Studio Live: The Gettable Audience from INN, October 8 in New York – INN is hosting a day-long workshop to share new benchmarking tools built on nearly a decade of Index data and grapple with how to manage the forces shaping the audience publishers can get.
AccessFest 2026 from IRE, October 8-10 online – The conference will provide professional development opportunities that focus on diversity, belonging, equity, and inclusion issues within the newsroom and in news coverage. Must be an IRE member.
Local News Camp from Blue Engine Collaborative, October 14–16 in Durham, NC – The event is for leaders who get things done: publishers, editors, audience directors, product leaders, and analytics mavens. Attendance is capped to preserve depth, connection, and meaningful exchange.
Latino Media Summit at CUNY , October 15 in New York – The summit explores emerging opportunities, shares practical solutions, and fosters collaboration to strengthen journalism and better serve Latino communities across the country.
News Product Alliance Summit, October 21-23 in Chicago – The event is for decision-makers who set priorities and ship work across product, audience, technology, revenue, and editorial, and turn strategy into execution.

Ask a Bot 🤖

Prompt: I would like to become a news creator in my community. Explain to me in one paragraph how I could become successful.

Answer via Gemini: To become a successful community news creator, you must build deep local trust by consistently delivering accurate, fair, and timely coverage of the issues that directly impact your neighbors’ daily lives. Focus on filling information gaps that larger media outlets overlook, such as school board decisions, small business spotlights, and neighborhood events. Engage actively with your audience across digital platforms. Treat your creator journey as a sustainable business by exploring diverse revenue streams — such as local sponsorships, memberships, or reader donations — ensuring you have the resources to provide independent, long-term coverage.

Human analysis: Yes, it’s vital to build trust with fair and accurate coverage not being done elsewhere, and engaging with your audience. Diverse revenue streams are great in theory, but how many creators have memberships or donations? Most don’t even have fiscal sponsors or 501(c)3 status to accept donations. Often, creators’ main business model is product placement, which doesn’t fit for news, so it’s the main weakness for supporting long-term coverage. One possible solution: partner with an existing news outlet. 🤝🏽