Introducing Civic Studio: Helping newsrooms thrive on today’s platforms

The News Revenue Hub is proud to announce the launch of Civic Studio, a new initiative designed to equip independent newsrooms with the tools, training, and revenue strategies they need to address changing consumption patterns and expand their reach, especially on video-focused platforms and social media, where audiences are increasingly consuming news today.

Building on nearly a decade of service to independent journalism, Civic Studio helps community-driven newsrooms increase their visibility, connect with new and diverse audiences, and generate sustainable revenue streams through platform-native video content and strategic sponsorships.

Supported by Google News Initiative, the Civic Studio pilot will kick off this fall with five partner newsrooms selected through a competitive application process. Apply here. 

Each newsroom will receive hands-on multimedia training, tailored strategy development, and production support to create compelling, mission-aligned visual storytelling for video-focused platforms and social media.

“Through Civic Studio, we want to give newsrooms the tools and expertise they need to reach the growing number of community members who prefer to consume news and information in different formats on social media and video platforms, ” said Mary Walter-Brown, founder and CEO of the News Revenue Hub. “Next generation newsrooms must possess the skills and strategies to creatively package and distribute quality, fact-based reporting, and integrate new revenue opportunities, like branded content and sponsorships, without compromising their editorial integrity.”

Platform-native storytelling meets revenue innovation

This year-long pilot will serve as a national R&D lab for scalable practices in audience engagement and revenue diversification. Participants will benefit from a blend of group workshops and individualized training sessions to learn how to:

• Develop video strategies tailored to new consumption patterns and newsroom goals
• Create recurring series optimized for engagement and retention
• Analyze performance metrics and iterate based on real-time feedback
• Integrate revenue from branded content and programmatic ads via the Hub’s News Revenue Ad Network

The News Revenue Hub will provide participants with access to a team of experienced video producers, audience strategists, and monetization experts.

Case studies, public resources, and a vision for scale

As part of its mission to share learnings with the broader journalism field, the Hub will document each Civic Studio newsroom’s experience and publish detailed case studies highlighting successes, challenges, and key takeaways. These will be shared publicly, including in the Hub’s 2026 State of the Hub report. 

“This is just the beginning,” said Walter-Brown. “Our long-term vision is to scale Civic Studio as a national service for forward-thinking media organizations, bringing together journalism, storytelling, and revenue in ways that meet the moment.”