Welcome to Created, the newsletter that doesn’t need a press pass to break the news. Here’s what we got today:
- White House Press Room gets 11,000 applications from creators
- Yahoo pays creators to become writers
- Thumbnail Round Up
11,000 Creators Apply for White House Press Pass
You hear that? That’s the sound of the floodgates opening for creators.
After President Trump recently opened press seats for “new media”, over 11,000 podcasters and YouTubers applied to join traditional outlets like The New York Times.
Bigger picture
The White House press briefing room is one of the most prestigious — and exclusive — places in politics.
For decades, it was reserved for big-name publications.
But on Jan 31st, Trump invited his first “new media” representative, John Ashbrook, a co-host of the Ruthless podcast.
And just this week, they revealed the staggering number of creators who applied to join.
Just The Start
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt says this is just the beginning.
Among the 11,000 applicants are Jimmy O’Keefe and Seth Dillion, signaling a major shift in media. Especially as traditional outlets face more trust issues.
Why This Matters
- More Voices: Expect news from a wider range of perspectives.
- Power Shift: Traditional journalists no longer have monopoly on White House access.
- TikTok-ification of News: Expect even more political moments to be clipped, streamed, and reacted to in real time.
Our Take
A recent Gallup poll showed only 31% of Americans trust the media, a record low. Among younger viewers, that number is worse.
It’s clear where those audiences went instead — the 2024 election was dominated by podcasts, with Trump’s 14 appearances earning 124M views by election day.
The question is: will this bring more transparency to political coverage? Or just turn the briefing room into another content battleground?
Either way, expect your feed to be filled with more political moments than before.
Yahoo Paying Creators To Become...Writers?
Yahoo is making a play for written content, offering a 50/50 ad revenue split for creators to write articles.
The announcement comes weeks after Substack launched its $20M creator fund to help creators start paid newsletters.
Desperate...or Smart?
Yahoo is trying to stay relevant in the creator era. Its new Stories from Creators program aims to get fresh content to Yahoo News and Yahoo Finance.
- March 2024: Yahoo first launched the program with just 21 creators.
- February 2025: Nearly 100 creators joined the program, writing on lifestyle, travel, and parenting — but not politics (likely to avoid fact-checking).
Show Me The Money
Top articles get 300K+ views on Yahoo, but earnings vary widely.
Creator couple Brent and Michael Are Going Places said they make $3,000 per month on Yahoo.
For some, that’s great passive income. For others, it’s pocket change compared to YouTube AdSense or brand deals.
How Does Substack Compare?
Here’s a head-to-head of the text-based platforms if you’re considering them.
Yahoo:
- Massive audience (200M+ monthly users)
- No audience ownership (Yahoo controls the platform)
- Ad revenue is inconsistent
Substack:
- You have to build your own audience
- Full ownership of content
- Predictable earnings as you scale
Our Take
Most great creators are great writers. You need to write your intro and hook. Weave together a story. It starts with pen and paper before you pick up your camera and lens.
Yahoo paying creators for written content is a great way to get writing experience that you can parlay into other mediums.
Plus, it can help drive traffic to where you actually make money.
$100,000 Example
Thomas Frank is a great example of a creator who uses both video and articles to build his business.
In our interview, he told me he makes $100K+ per month from Notion templates, thanks in part to written content on his blog that drives traffic to his store.
🎯 Weekly Roundup: Thumbnails
Here’s why we love these YT thumbnails. Hopefully they inspire your next one.
- “Full House in 3 Days” text + unfinished structure makes you wonder how it’s possible (Modern House Cabin)
- Stunning mountaintop location + €10 price tag makes this look unreal (Chris Howett)
- Bright pink ‘BORING’ text and colorful ice cream contrast with black and white background (Vox)
- Text + stressed LEGO figure creates intrigue (SpideyComic_15)
🚀 Weekly Outlier
This video by Tonio Guajardo has 1.6M views, which is 11.6 times higher than the channel’s average. Here’s why it took off:
- Click-Worthy Hook: The premise is instantly intriguing: experiencing America’s worst-rated cruise firsthand.
- Immersive Storytelling: The mix of humor and genuine reactions makes you feel like you’re on the journey too.
- Unexpected Heart: A fun review turns emotional, highlighting real human moments, like the hardworking crew members.
💰 Job Board
- Dimucc is looking for a YouTube Short videographer
- Leila Hormozi is looking for a social media manager
- AMP is looking for a short-form manager
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Trust me, these books are packed with more tips than most paid courses.
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👋 See You Inside
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– Jon
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