Creators are reshaping how we consume, share, and produce news.
A new wave of creators, known as news influencers, is transforming how current events get shared. They provide continuous real-time first and build trust with audiences who feel disconnected from traditional mainstream media.
According to a recent report from the Pew Research Center, one in five Americans get their news from these news influencers, with a significantly higher percentage among adults under 30.
As trust in traditional media continues to hit an all-time low, could this new era of digital news creators hold the key to helping restore confidence in how we consume news?
What is A News Influencer?
A news influencer is a creator who consistently shares breaking insights on current events and civic issues across social media platforms. They have diverse backgrounds, too—former journalists, independent content creators, or individuals who built a following from commenting on events from around the globe.
Unlike traditional journalists, who often work within the confines of established newsrooms and editorial boards, news influencers operate independently, directly engaging with their audiences and often covering stories mainstream outlets overlook or see as too niche.
Some news creators, like Lisa Remillard, known as “The News Girl” with over 3 million TikTok followers, have a background in traditional journalism. Others followed unconventional paths to spark their digital news careers.
One example is V Spehar, an independent citizen journalist and the creator of the hugely popular Under The Desk News™. Spehar mastered the art of short-form content, offering quick, digestible recaps of major headlines, cementing them as a go-to news source for Gen Z and Millennials.
Aaron Parnas, a Gen Z news influencer, amassed more than one million followers in six months on TikTok after reporting on the Invasion of Ukraine. Frustrated by the lack of detailed coverage by mainstream media outlets, he turned to TikTok, where he shared real-time updates he received from his uncle, who was on the ground in Ukraine.
“He would tell me what’s happening in front of his house, and I would report it on TikTok. Forty-five minutes later, one of the big journalists would verify my reporting on their own station.”
Parnas is unique in his willigness to report from anywhere—from HomeGoods and grocery stores to an airplane bathroom 35,000 feet in the air. There are no limits to where or when he shares news.
The Appeal of News Influencers
While anyone can become a news influencer, few have what it takes to hold attention long-term. However, the ones that do offer timely, accessible, and often more relatable news coverage than traditional outlets. As such, they build influence fast, especially among younger audiences.
According to the Pew Research Center, 65% of Americans who get their news from social media influencers feel these creators help them better understand current events and civic issues. News influencers have a knack for explaining complex topics in a way that is digestible and easy to understand in a busy social media feed; they excel at communicating with Facetime-style videos.
Sarah Baus, a TikTok creator known for her lifestyle content, became a citizen journalist, releasing timely updates on the TikTok ban. Or debacle.
What started as real-time updates for her followers quickly became a full-fledged journalistic effort. Baus traveled to Washington, D.C., providing on-the-ground coverage, including attending a press conference after the Supreme Court hearing on TikTok’s future.
So, how did she transition to news influencer? Before she covered the ban, Baus already had a following of 800,000 TikTok followers. After the hearing, her audience grew rapidly, gaining over 50,000 new followers in just two weeks. Baus credits much of this growth to her community’s interest in staying updated on the D.C. developments through her easily digestible content.
“I’ve always enjoyed breaking things down and explaining them,” she says. “It wasn’t my intention to become a reporter, but I was happy to be a voice for my community and keep them informed about what was happening in D.C., especially when the headlines from major news media outlets often contradicted each other.”
The Business of News Influencers
News influencers aren’t just sharing news; they’re building sustainable business models to maintain independence from corporate media.
Platforms like Substack, Beehiv, and Pateron have become popular platforms for independent journalists and news creators because they allow them to bypass traditional media gatekeepers and directly connect with their audience. Independent journalists can build a loyal subscriber base and monetize their content through paid subscriptions, offering exclusive content, analysis, or newsletters.
Parnas, for example, has a loyal following through his Substack newsletter, The Parnas Perspective, where paid subscribers receive exclusive live coverage and in-depth analysis.
Platforms like Substack provide the flexibility to write on niche topics that mainstream media may not cover, enabling independent journalists and creators to maintain creative control and independence. Ultimately, this allows creators to foster a more direct relationship with readers, who are willing to pay for valuable and trustworthy content.
The Future of News Influencers
Recent Gallup data shows that 36% of U.S. adults distrust the media, while 33% report having only “slight” confidence in it.
As trust in traditional media reaches an all-time low, could news creators help restore that confidence?
Creators like Aaron Parnas believe so.
Parnas envisions a media landscape where traditional networks like CNN collaborate with news creators to deliver trustworthy information to audiences.
“There’s a reason companies like CNN and Fox News are on TikTok,” he says. “They want to replicate what we’ve been doing, but they can’t because they don’t have the same level of trust with their audience. I hope the next step is recognizing the value of news creators’ work to the point where they integrate it with their own.”
With the White House briefing room now open to bloggers, podcasters, and influencers, news creators are poised to take an even more significant role in how news is shared on social media. In the first 24 hours after Press Secretary Karoline Levitt announced the “new media voices” initiative, over 7,400 creators applied. Creators like Parnas hope to obtain one of the coveted passes in the White House press room.
Before you Go
News influencers are reshaping how Americans consume information, offering timely, easy-to-understand updates that resonate with audiences, especially engaging younger GenZ and millennial audiences. As trust in traditional media declines, these creators are building strong followings by offering real-time coverage and personal insights in a way legacy media often can’t match. With their increasing influence and financial autonomy, news influencers will play a pivotal role in the future of news consumption.