A few years ago, I was a journalist focused solely on the craft—investigating, reporting, and meeting deadlines. I didn’t give much thought to how the newsroom operated behind the scenes or how the bills were paid. That was someone else’s responsibility.
But everything changed when I launched my media company, TheClue Media. Suddenly, I found myself facing a harsh reality: telling great stories wasn’t enough to keep the operation running. I needed to understand the financial side of the business to ensure its survival. Learning about media revenue streams became crucial to keeping the lights on and the content flowing.
Here’s how this knowledge has reshaped my approach to journalism and made me better at what I do:
1. Seeing the bigger picture
As a journalist, I’d always believed the work was about the stories. But when I took on the responsibility of running a media company, I quickly realised that it was far more complex. Subscriptions, advertising, partnerships—these all played a major role in keeping the business afloat. Understanding these revenue models helped me see that a great story needs a stable platform to reach its audience. Without sustainable funding, even the best journalism will struggle to survive.
2. Protecting editorial integrity
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned is how financial pressures can influence editorial decisions. In an ideal world, editorial and commercial interests remain separate, but in reality, they often overlap. Understanding where the money comes from helped me make informed decisions about the kinds of partnerships and funding we accept. It also gave me the confidence to advocate for ethical revenue sources and ensure the integrity of the work we produced. Knowing how to balance financial necessity with editorial independence is key to maintaining trust with your audience.
3. Engaging the audience
Learning about media revenue streams also deepened my understanding of the audience. It’s not just about producing good content, but about understanding what your audience values enough to support. This insight helped me lead a growing team that wasn’t just focused on journalism for the sake of it, but on creating content that connects with people and encourages them to engage. A clear understanding of what drives revenue helped us think strategically, ensuring that the content we created were both valuable and sustainable.
I firmly believe that every journalist, regardless of their role, should have a solid understanding of how media organisations generate revenue. It’s not just for business owners or executives—it’s for anyone who cares about the future of journalism.
#MediaSustainability #MediaRevenueModels #Journalism
