Creators and the future of journalism: insights on infrastructure building from the US and South Africa
Thu 16 April 2026
17:00
Free
Calculating distance...
Whatever you call them, “individuals who combine elements of journalism with content creation techniques to produce news, stories or informational content for digital platforms” have been on the rise in recent years, building trust with new audiences and supported by new platforms and tools that make it easier to run a solo (or small) newsroom.
But it isn’t entirely smooth sailing for independent creator-model journalists. Often they’re bootstrapping their operations with their own savings, publishing without liability insurance, struggling to find healthcare plans, learning to operate small businesses and navigate the safety challenges of holding truth to power.
CNTI is currently interviewing 50+ creator-model journalists in the US and South Africa (with other countries to follow!) about their motivations, revenue models, audiences, tech platforms and day-to-day realities. In a new research study, set to be released prior to IJF, the study will make clear the realities of the creator-journalist path and the infrastructure needed to support these independent operators.
At the same time, the recently launched Independent Journalism Atlas is mapping credible creator-model journalists, amplifying the still developing best practices for this space and helping creator-model journalists get the support they need by pioneering new business models and making connections between creators and funders.
In this panel, we’ll discuss what we learned, and what we need to do, to ensure a future where people have access to many diverse sources of fact-based information.
Moderated by Liz Kelly Nelson.
Organised in association with the Center for News, Technology & Innovation (CNTI).
Modified more than a month ago
Event collection
Pages involved
Justin Arenstein
Justin Arenstein, founder and chief strategist at Code for Africa (CfA), leads the continent's largest digital journalism initiative, with operations in 26 countries. CfA develops forensic AI tools, drones, remote sensors, civic technologies, and data liberation infrastructure. CfA also runs PesaCheck, Africa's leading fact-checking newsroom, and the iLAB, a forensic investigation team combating weaponised hate speech and online extremism. CfA's TrustLab tracks the surveillance-for-hire industry and provides digital security to human rights defenders, while its AI Sandbox builds machine learning solutions. CfA is also custodian of the African Fact Checking Alliance (AFCA), a coalition of 300+ newsrooms, as well as the AI+ Alliance, ANCIR, ADDO, AWA, and WanaData. Before CfA, Justin was an award-winning investigative data journalist and media entrepreneur, co-founding the Association of Independent Publishers and Southern African Freelance Association. He has angel-funded numerous independent media startups. Justin serves on advisory boards for the Partnership for AI, World Economic Forum, World Bank/IMF, and Code for All. In 2025, he became co-CEO of the new ICFJ+ initiative.
Justin Bank
Justin Bank is co-founder of the Independent Journalism Atlas, building infrastructure to support independent creator journalism through discovery tools, standards development, and fair partnerships. The Atlas—a searchable database of 1001+ independent journalists organized by topics, platforms, and geography—launched February 2026. Justin brings 20 years of experience leading digital transformation at America's most respected newsrooms. He served as Managing Editor of Audience & Visual Journalism at The Washington Post (2023-2024), overseeing audience engagement, platforms, new storytelling formats, and visual journalism. Previously, he was Senior Director of Digital Strategy at NPR (2020-2023) and Senior Audience Director at The New York Times, where he joined following the landmark Innovation Report. In his first stint at The Post, he was the first SEO editor hired by a U.S. newsroom in 2010. He began his career as a staff writer at FactCheck.org during the George W. Bush administration. His recent work includes data-driven analysis of local news economics and creator journalism sustainability.
Amy Mitchell
Amy S. Mitchell is the founding Executive Director of the Center for News, Technology & Innovation. Prior to her role at CNTI, Mitchell served as Managing Director of news and Information Research at the Pew Research Center. In her 25 years with Pew Research, Mitchell helped launch the journalism research program and served as managing director since 2010, responsible for the center’s research related to news and information, including how the public accesses, engages with and creates news, what news organizations are providing, and the evolving role of technology in the flow of news and information. Mitchell is an expert in project design & management, methodological application & evaluation, analysis and writing. She speaks around the world to elected leaders, technology companies, news and information providers and other decision makers. Mitchell also spent five years in her early career as a Congressional Research Associate at the American Enterprise Institute, where she researched public policy and the relationship of the press, the public and government. Mitchell is a graduate of Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
Liz Kelly Nelson
Liz Kelly Nelson is 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. As the founder of Project C, a concept she developed during her 2024 Sulzberger Fellowship at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, she is focused on empowering journalists to embrace new models, find sustainable revenue, and create impactful work outside of traditional media structures. Liz was one of The Washington Post’s first bloggers and prior to Project C she led teams at Vox, USA Today, Gannett, and AOL. Liz sits on the Board of Visitors of the John S. Knight Journalism Fellowships at Stanford University, is a member of the Beehiiv Media Collective advisory board, serves as a Cronkite Pro at Arizona State University’s Cronkite School of Journalism and Communications and is a 2025-2026 Terker Fellow at George Washington University’s School of Media and Public Affairs.
Festival Internazionale del Giornalismo
Il Festival Internazionale del Giornalismo di Perugia è un evento annuale che riunisce professionisti dei media, esperti di comunicazione e appassionati di informazione da tutto il mondo. Si svolge nel centro storico di Perugia e offre conferenze, dibattiti, workshop e opportunità di networking sui temi più rilevanti del giornalismo contemporaneo.