Revenue 201: From Surviving to Thriving as a Creator-Journalist

Details

Date

November 3 - December 7, 2025

Language

English

Alternative

Modules

4

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November 3 - December 7, 2025

$135.00

Revenue 201: From Surviving to Thriving as a Creator-Journalist

With newsletters on the rise, many independent journalists are growing loyal audiences. But how do you turn that momentum into meaningful revenue and a business that lasts?

Learn how in the new online course, Revenue 201: From Surviving to Thriving as a Creator-Journalist, organized by the Knight Center in partnership with Project C, from Nov. 3–Dec. 7, 2025.

In this five-module course, you’ll learn how to professionalize your revenue operation, build systems that support growth, and rethink the scarcity mindset that holds so many journalists back. You’ll dig into proven strategies to grow subscriptions and sponsorships — while also gaining practical tools you can use right away, including a media kit and a ready-to-run end-of-year campaign.

By the end of the course, you’ll be able to:

Clarify your revenue goals and map your path to reach them
Build sponsorship packages and media kits that win partners
Use audience segmentation and automation to increase conversions
Design high-performing reader revenue campaigns you can launch immediately
Spot and question limiting beliefs about money and growth
Approach your work with confidence — as both a craft and a business

This course is designed for independent creator-journalists with growing newsletters who are ready to move from simply “making it work” to building a sustainable, thriving business.

Join the course and take the next step toward turning your newsletter into lasting revenue.

This course is asynchronous, meaning there are no required live events, and you can complete activities at your own pace each week.

The material is organized into five modules that combine videos, readings, and discussion forums:

Introduction Module – The Creator Economy Today
This module provides an overview of the newsletter revenue landscape. You’ll explore the most common and emerging revenue models, and understand why reader revenue has become such a powerful force for creator-journalists.

Module 1 – Foundations
Participants will learn how to approach their newsletter as a business, not “just” a publication. You’ll work on shifting from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance, while setting clear revenue goals and projections for the coming year.

Module 2 – Segmentation and Automation
This module introduces the core segments and automations every creator should have. You’ll practice setting up at least one of each, learning how to deepen audience engagement and strengthen your revenue growth.

Module 3 – Supercharging Reader Revenue
Participants will focus on subscriptions as a key revenue stream. You’ll learn how to design reader revenue campaigns, craft persuasive messaging, and apply pricing psychology and A/B testing to optimize results. A template for an end-of-year campaign will help you put these lessons into practice immediately.

Module 4 – Sponsorships
This extended module covers everything you need to secure sponsors. You’ll learn how to identify and pitch potential sponsors, create compelling sponsorship packages, and design a professional media kit. By the end, you’ll have both assets ready to send.

Register now and gain immediate access to the introduction module materials.

If you have any questions, please contact us at journalismcourses@austin.utexas.edu.

Liz Kelly Nelson is a leader in journalism innovation, dedicated to helping independent journalists and media creators build sustainable careers in a rapidly evolving media landscape. With a background in newsroom leadership, digital media strategy and creator economy expertise, Liz has worked across the journalism ecosystem – supporting reporters, advising media startups and collaborating with major institutions on the future of independent journalism. She is focused on empowering journalists to embrace new models, find sustainable revenue, and create impactful work outside of traditional media structures. Prior to Project C, Liz led teams at Vox, USA Today, Gannett, AOL. Liz sits on the advisory board for the Beehiiv Media Collective and is a 2025-2026 Terker Fellow at George Washington University’s School of Media & Public Affairs.

Blair Hickman is a strategy consultant and leadership coach, who helps media innovators bring their ideas to life. With deep expertise in audience development, editorial strategy, consumer revenue, and leadership development, she partners with clients to co-create sustainable strategic plans, and coaches leaders on how to make them stick — including nurturing their own work/life balance. She is also a strategist for Project C, and co-founder of Going Solo. Previously, she was the Executive Director of Strategy and Development at Vox, with previous stops at ProPublica and The Marshall Project. Blair has taught at Medill, Columbia, NYU, USC, and CUNY, and holds degrees in journalism and writing from NYU and Brown. She was also a 2025 Sulzberger Fellow at Columbia University.