Revenue 201: A Hands-On Course to Turn Your Newsletter into a Thriving Business

Independent journalists have become a powerful force, with newsletters at the center of how many connect directly with their audiences. But turning that passion into a sustainable business can feel daunting. That’s where our new low-cost online course comes in.

The Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas, in partnership with Project C, is offering Revenue 201: From Surviving to Thriving as a Creator-Journalist, from Nov. 3 to Dec. 7, 2025. Participants will learn how to set revenue goals, design reader revenue campaigns, build compelling sponsorship packages, and use tools like segmentation and automation to increase subscriptions.

For only $135, you’ll get immediate access to the introduction module, full course materials, and weekly labs with hands-on feedback — plus a certificate of completion when you meet the course requirements.

Led by instructors Blair Hickman and Liz Kelly Nelson from Project C, this five-module program will help independent creator-journalists strengthen their revenue strategies, increase income, and build thriving newsletter businesses. The course also guides participants to rethink the scarcity mindset common in traditional newsrooms and approach their work with confidence as both a craft and a business. By the end, students will leave with practical, ready-to-use templates, including a media kit and an end-of-year campaign that can be implemented immediately.

The course is structured into five modules, each providing practical tools and strategies to turn your newsletter into a sustainable, revenue-generating business.

• Introduction Module: Explore the creator economy, see how newsletter creators generate income, and set the stage for your own revenue strategy.
• Module 1 – Foundations: Shift your mindset from scarcity to abundance, clarify your revenue goals, and begin seeing yourself as both a journalist and a business owner.
• Module 2 – Segmentation and Automation: Learn how to engage readers effectively, build key segments and automations, and know when to expand them.
• Module 3 – Supercharging Reader Revenue: Develop campaigns that convert, craft compelling messaging, optimize calls-to-action, and apply pricing psychology to grow subscriptions.
• Module 4 – Sponsorships and Media Kits: Develop effective sponsorship packages and a media kit to attract partners, gain confidence in pitching sponsors, and secure higher-paying opportunities.

Each week includes video lessons, readings, practical assignments, discussion forums, and short quizzes to review the material. Optional weekly labs provide the chance to bring in-progress work for direct feedback from the instructors, offering a hands-on, personalized learning experience that can be adapted to each participant’s newsletter business. The labs offer a unique opportunity for one-on-one guidance, with recordings available for those who cannot attend live.

Throughout the course, you’ll benefit from personalized guidance in weekly labs, gain practical insights from the instructors, and leave with ready-to-apply templates you can use right away. Successfully completing all requirements also earns you a certificate of completion to showcase your achievement.

Revenue 201: From Surviving to Thriving as a Creator-Journalist was designed especially for independent newsletter creators who have started to grow their audiences and are ready to take the next step toward long-term sustainability, but it is open to anyone looking to strengthen their revenue strategy and build a thriving newsletter business.

Don’t miss this chance to gain hands-on guidance and tools you can apply immediately! Join us from Nov. 3 to Dec. 7, 2025, and take the next step toward turning momentum into meaningful revenue.