There’s a narrative that creators get into this line of work to become famous or get free stuff. Part of the issue is that there are many types of digital creators, and we don’t have a shared vocabulary for who we are referring to, which is something that NCC is digging into. The influencers posting sweater recommendations have different goals than creators sharing information about climate change.

The creators in our first fellowship class care deeply about their audience and want to provide them with accurate and impactful information. Many of them somewhat fell into becoming a content creator. They were an expert in their field, like women’s health or meteorology, started sharing information online and amassed a following. Some built a community by sharing their personal experiences.

I can’t speak for all of their motivations; they are not a monolith. But generally speaking, they are eager to learn, find new ways to deepen their relationships with their audience, and experiment with partnerships. After having our first week of training programs, where the class had the opportunity to learn about sourcing from Imaeyen Ibanga, I can confidently say that if we were on the Bachelor, we’d say they were here for the right reasons. I can’t wait to see where this fellowship program takes us.

Caliber is launching a SaySo, a news and information app curated to user interests, powered by the expertise and passion of independent creators, and built on transparency. The platform brings together the voices of vetted creators to help users understand the topics they care about most through credible content with context, perspective and clarity. The user-curated algorithm also provides personalized content experiences that allow your work to reach those who are seeking it most! Caliber is inviting a select group of trusted, mission-aligned creators to join the Founding Creator Program — an exclusive group that will be the first to onboard and help shape the future of how information is shared and monetized. If you’re interested in learning more directly from the team behind the app and exploring what it means to be a founding creator, please reach out Courtney Christine ([email protected]) and include your social channels. Please mention NCC in your email.

“TikTok is like a bridge,” one interviewee said. “It helps me get the important news in a condensed version, so I know what’s happening without having to spend 30 min waiting for the news channel and watching a million other things go wrong in the world.”

Here’s what we’ve heard since launch: This is so needed, and it needs to be bigger. Our ambition is to build on our pilot and launch several classes next year, bringing the training program to high school classes, college students, and current journalists, in addition to trusted creators. You can support our mission by following us on LinkedIn, amplifying our posts and connecting us to potential partners and funders.