The Best Platforms for Journalists: My Top Picks for 2025

I’ve launched and run newsletters on just about every email platform you can think of. Substack, ConvertKit, beehiiv, Medium, WordPress — you name it; I’ve tried it.

Over the years, I realized something important: journalists already know the hardest part of running a newsletter — how to tell a great story. 

We hook readers, break down tough topics, and keep people engaged. But in traditional media, we’re rarely involved in the business side of things. Ads, sponsorships, subscriptions – someone else manages those.

So when journalists decide to go independent, that’s the biggest learning curve — not the writing, but figuring out how to turn their work into a sustainable business.

That’s why I’m obsessed with finding platforms that make this easier. Because the reality is, some platforms make it simple to build, monetize, and grow. Others keep you trapped in someone else’s system.

If you’re a journalist ready to leave the old media model and go solo but aren’t sure where to start, this guide is for you.

Table of Contents

• Why Journalists Are Going Independent

  • The Decline of Traditional Media and Shrinking Newsrooms

  • The Rise of Subscription-Based and Audience-Funded Journalism

• Why Owning Your Audience and Content Matters

• The Best Platforms for Journalists in 2025

  • 1. beehiiv — Best for Journalists Who Want Full Control and Growth Tools

  • 2. Substack – Best for Easy Setup and Built-In Audience Discovery

  • 3. Ghost – Best for Full Customization and Zero Platform Fees

  • 4. Medium – Best for Writers Focused on Reach, Not Revenue

  • 5. WordPress – Best for Journalists Who Want Full Ownership and Flexibility

• Choosing the Right Platform for Your Journalism Business

• beehiiv’s Media Collective: A Game-Changer for Journalists

• The Future of Journalism Is Independent

Why Journalists Are Going Independent

Journalists are leaving traditional media for one big reason: they want to fully own their work. 

No more editors changing your story at the last minute. No office politics. No corporate rules on social media. It’s just you, your audience, and the stories you want to tell.

Of course, this freedom means you handle everything, including the business side. 

In the old days, separate teams handled ads, subscriptions, or sponsorships. Now, if you run your own newsletter, you must act like a business owner. Writing good stories isn’t enough anymore.

You’ll need a platform that supports your goals—one that doesn’t lock you into its system or take a huge cut of your earnings. 

Before we explore the top platforms for 2025, let’s look at why so many journalists are choosing to go solo in the first place.

The Decline of Traditional Media and Shrinking Newsrooms

I’ve spent a decade in newsrooms, and there’s always one constant: layoffs. 

I’ve seen talented reporters fired with little warning, and I’ve sat in tense staff meetings where everyone wonders who’s next. 

Over 12,000 journalists were laid off in the past 2 years alone, and I’ve personally lost track of how many times I’ve seen entire departments disappear overnight. It’s a reality that pushes many of us to question how long we can keep waiting for the other shoe to drop.

What I’m noticing, though, is a big shift in mindset. More and more colleagues — from senior editors to early-career reporters — are taking a hard look at the industry and deciding it’s time to build something they own. 

Instead of hanging on at a place where the bottom line can wipe out your entire job in one afternoon, they’re creating their own newsletters, podcasts, or digital publications. Why? You can’t lay off the owner. Plus, when you own your work, you keep all the rewards.

The Rise of Subscription-Based and Audience-Funded Journalism

We all know how the ad-driven media model is imploding. 

Readers have so many ways to get information for free that banner ads and clickthroughs can’t sustain traditional outlets the way they once did. 

I could write an entire dissertation on how media companies are still grappling with this, but the key point is that relying on advertising just doesn’t cut it in a digital-first world.

What’s replacing it, at least for independent journalists, is direct audience support. People subscribe to your newsletter or pay monthly for your premium content not just because they want another source of news, but because they want your perspective. 

I’ve had countless conversations with other writers who’ve built sizable subscriber bases simply by writing consistently and being transparent about their angle. 

When readers connect with a particular voice — someone they trust to explain big issues or sift through mountains of data — they’re remarkably willing to pay for that access.

For me, it’s been a bit of a revelation: you don’t need the mass scale of a national newspaper if a dedicated audience is there to support you. 

The perks? You decide what stories to chase and how to tell them. And when your audience funds your work directly, it aligns your priorities with theirs. 

You’re not chasing clicks. Instead, you’re chasing trust, and that’s a far more sustainable — and honestly, fulfilling — way to do journalism.

The era of “let’s just hope ads will pay for our newsroom” is long gone.

Look at The Free Press, Puck, Status — their success proves that audiences do pay for quality journalism when it’s attached to a distinct, trusted voice.

Puck, for example, was started by a group of journalists who recognized that the old ways of running a media business were broken. 

“We knew that, in this new media age, the creator is the heart of the business equation, and so the founding team endeavored to build our business around elite, genre-defining journalists — pros in the prime of their careers who saw their subjects and audiences at an eye-to-eye level,” Jon Kelly writes. 

Take Oliver Darcy’s experience at CNN as another example. In a climate of newsroom constraints, Darcy realized that forging a direct relationship with readers can be the most reliable way to preserve journalistic integrity and independence. 

After launching Status on beehiiv, Darcy gained more than 10,000 subscribers in under 6 months — proving that direct subscriber support can fuel rapid, sustainable growth.

Journalists don’t need gatekeepers anymore. They need the right platform. With the right tool, it’s easier than ever to:

• Sell subscriptions & memberships

• Secure sponsorships & brand partnerships

• Run audience-supported crowdfunding

Why Owning Your Audience and Content Matters

If you’re working for a media company, you are ultimately creating the content that people value, but there’s one major caveat. You don’t own the relationship with your audience; the company does. 

And even if you go independent, if your platform controls your revenue, you don’t own your business.

Too many journalists have learned this the hard way. They build massive followings on platforms like X (Formerly Twitter) only to see engagement collapse overnight after an algorithm change.

The reality is that social media doesn’t build a business. You need an email list to do that. That’s why choosing the right publishing platform — one that gives you full control over your audience — is the most important decision you can make.

The Best Platforms for Journalists in 2025

I hope by now I’ve gotten you excited for the opportunity that awaits you; now is the fun part!

Some platforms make it easy to start, but limit your options down the line. Others give you full ownership, but require more work to scale. The best choice depends on your goals, audience, and how much control you want.

Here’s a breakdown of the top platforms for journalists in 2025 — who they’re best for, what they offer, and what to watch out for.

1. beehiiv — Best for Journalists Who Want Full Control and Growth Tools

Ideal for: Journalists who want to build a subscription-based business while keeping 100% of their revenue

beehiiv was built by the team behind Morning Brew — one of the most successful newsletter brands — and is designed for serious writers who want full ownership of their audience. 

Unlike Substack, there are no revenue cuts, and beehiiv offers growth and monetization tools that most platforms don’t. 

beehiiv offers powerful audience growth tools such as referral programs, recommendations, and built-in SEO optimization, features that can be the difference between inching forward and scaling quickly. 

The highlights:

✅ You keep 100% of your subscriber revenue (no hidden platform fees)

✅ Advanced audience growth tools (referral programs, recommendations, SEO)

✅ Scalability—great for small newsletters and large media brands

The biggest downside of using beehiiv as a journalist is the lack of discovery features, compared to Substack for example. However, the pros greatly outweigh the cons here, and you can use other tactics, like Boosts, to grow your newsletter.

If you’re serious about building a long-term independent journalism business, beehiiv is one of the best platforms available.

2. Substack – Best for Easy Setup and Built-In Audience Discovery

Ideal for: Journalists who want a personal newsletter that’s easy to start and taps into an existing community of readers and writers

Substack is a great choice for journalists because there’s already a strong ecosystem of independent writers on the platform, which means there’s an audience that’s actively looking for long-form, in-depth writing. 

If you’re used to writing for a publication, Substack makes it feel natural to publish your own work because you’re surrounded by other journalists doing the same thing.

Another big advantage? It’s easy to start a personal newsletter without worrying about branding. Unlike other platforms where you might feel pressure to create a full-fledged media business, Substack lets you start with just your name, your writing, and an email list.

The highlights:

✅ Built-in community—journalists and writers are already reading newsletters here

✅ Easy setup—no design or tech skills required to start

✅ Substack’s recommendation system helps you grow organically

🔴 Downside: takes a 10% cut of your paid subscriptions

🔴 Limited customization: you’re locked into Substack’s formatting and design

If you’re new to paid newsletters and want a low-friction way to get started, Substack is a great option. But if you’re planning to scale, the revenue share model adds up fast.

I personally chose beehiiv because I wanted to scale beyond just a newsletter and have full control over my revenue streams. But if you’re looking for the simplest way to start, Substack is a great entry point.

3. Ghost – Best for Full Customization and Zero Platform Fees

Ideal for: Journalists who want full ownership of their site, newsletter, and revenue without paying platform fees

Ghost is an open-source, independent publishing platform that gives you full control over your content and monetization. 

Unlike Substack or beehiiv, Ghost doesn’t take a cut of your revenue, but it does require more technical setup.

Ghost is one option on this list that I haven’t used personally; but according to reviews and journalists I’ve spoken with, it can be a pretty powerful tool to run memberships and paid communities. 

The highlights:

✅ No revenue share — keep 100% of what you earn

✅ Customizable design and branding

✅ Membership tools for subscriptions and premium content

🔴 Downside: Requires self-hosting or a Ghost subscription ($9-$25+/month)

For journalists who want complete independence and don’t mind a little extra setup, Ghost is a powerful option.

4. Medium – Best for Writers Focused on Reach, Not Revenue

Ideal for: Journalists who want a built-in audience but don’t plan to monetize directly through subscriptions

Medium is unique because it has an existing readership, making it a good place to attract organic traffic. 

But the Medium Partner Program pays based on reader engagement — not direct subscriptions, so earnings can be unpredictable. And from other writers I know, most only earn a measly amount from the program. 

I’ll be honest. Medium would probably be my last choice out of the rest of this list for several reasons: 

• You have to pay Medium directly to join the member’s program, so it doesn’t end up being truly free. 

• You don’t build up any sort of email list that you can take with you; instead it’s more of a glorified blogging/social media platform. 

✅ Built-in audience –making it easier to get readers without promotion

✅ Simple interface –no setup required

🔴 Downside: No real ownership — Medium controls distribution and monetization

If your main goal is visibility rather than monetization, Medium is worth considering but still not my top choice. 

If you want to build a sustainable business, there are much better options out there.

5. WordPress – Best for Journalists Who Want Full Ownership and Flexibility

Ideal for: Journalists looking to build a fully customized media brand with complete control

WordPress is the most versatile platform for journalists who want to run their own site, host content, and integrate multiple revenue streams. 

As someone who has worked on dozens of WordPress sites over the years, I love how powerful WordPress can be. 

WordPress gives you the ultimate range in customizations and plug-ins, so you could build a full media site. It also has some of the best SEO features on the market. 

But to get this all set up correctly, WordPress can be pretty complex and time consuming (not to mention expensive if you need to hire a designer/developer).

At the end of the day, WordPress is more of a customer relationship manager (CRM) than an email newsletter platform. 

And according to this Reddit thread, WordPress can be slow, frustrating, and is “not exactly tailored for journalists who just want to focus on their craft.”

The highlights:

✅ Total control over content, branding, and monetization

✅ Can integrate newsletters, memberships, and ad revenue

🔴 Downside: Requires technical setup and ongoing maintenance

For journalists ready to invest in long-term brand building, WordPress offers a ton of flexibility. But if you want a plug-and-play solution, it can be complex to get set up.

Choosing the Right Platform for Your Journalism Business

If you learn anything from my experience, it’s that you can keep testing out tools till you find what you like best. 

📌 Want full control over your audience & revenue? → beehiiv, Ghost, WordPress

📌 Want built-in discovery to help grow? → Substack, Medium

📌 Want the easiest setup? → Substack, Medium

📌 Want total ownership + customization? → beehiiv, WordPress

Bottom line: If you’re a journalist who wants to build a long-term media business, beehiiv gives you the most control and monetization power.

beehiiv’s Media Collective: A Game-Changer for Journalists

Going independent means more control, but it also means losing the infrastructure of a newsroom – no legal team, no growth support, no employer benefits. That’s where beehiiv’s Media Collective comes in.

This invite-only program helps serious journalists scale by providing:

✔ Full revenue ownership — no platform fees or revenue cuts

✔ Audience growth support — insider strategies to grow faster

✔ Exclusive software access — research and content creation tools

✔ VIP strategy sessions — hands-on guidance from industry experts

✔ Health insurance & legal support — resources most independent journalists don’t get

Who it’s for: Journalists with an established audience who want to grow beyond a solo newsletter and build a sustainable, profitable media business

If you’re serious about scaling, beehiiv’s Media Collective is one of the few initiatives designed specifically for independent journalists.

The Future of Journalism Is Independent

Journalists don’t need a newsroom to succeed anymore. The best opportunities exist outside of traditional media — where you own your work, your audience, and your revenue.

From my own (sometimes messy) experiences, I’ve realized that the most important thing you can prioritize in your search is a tool that gives you full control over the parts that really matter, like your subscriber list, your revenue, and your brand. 

Platforms like beehiiv have built tools specifically designed for serious journalists who want to own their future without sacrificing growth or monetization. Others, like Substack, offer simpler onboarding and built-in discovery, but you’ll give up a cut of your revenue once you scale.

If you’re ready to make the jump, I can’t wait to see what you create. The future of journalism isn’t locked behind a corporate gate anymore—it’s right here, waiting for you to build it on your own terms.

And if you’d like to try out beehiiv, you can get started for free today.