The common news cycle for a new government program or nonprofit resource tends to run like this: A big announcement with social media cheers. Silence. Potentially a follow up story about how it worked, if there was an impact report to reference. Silence. Maybe a story about shenanigans if things went awry.

The truth is that after the glitzy announcement the take up rates for many programs is pretty low. A 2023 paper from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine notes: “A long-standing puzzle for policy makers and researchers has been that not all individuals and families who appear to be eligible to receive benefits apply for them.”

Research has found several reasons for this, including the lack of information, the stigma of receiving benefits, and the administrative burden to complete applications.

So we’re running an experiment to see if the creator infrastructure we’re building can help.

NCC’s Community Amplification Program connects creators with nonprofits, community groups, local government agencies, and civic organizations that have data, resources, reports, or information that needs to reach a wider audience.

Many eligible populations don’t know they qualify for programs, and eligible populations tend to be harder to reach, especially those who are not tuned into mainstream media. Creators have proven to be trusted messengers in many communities, and we’re betting they can help spread the word about resources that may make a difference in the communities that need them most.

Here’s how it will work: Selected organizations will be paired with a relevant creator and will collaborate on the best messaging to reach the intended audience. News Creator Corps will cover the costs, paying the creator for their work. The projects will likely be published throughout February and March.

We are particularly interested in supporting projects around topics that frequently confront misinformation and disinformation, such as health and wellness, election integrity and civic engagement, immigration, and weather and climate.

Applications are due February 6—tell a friend.

We’re invested in ensuring access to quality news and information for everyone, particularly by giving community messengers the skills they need to fact-check the content they’re sharing. We know that teens look to their family and friends for input about the world around them, making parents key community messengers. We want to give you the tools you need to guide your teen through today's complex news landscape. To best achieve that, we need your input.

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Creator Legal 101: Protecting your content, brand, and moneyFebruary 4 at 1 p.m. ETIn this training, creator attorney Brittany Ratelle shows you how to protect your content, brand, and money when working with brands and partners. You’ll learn how ownership, licensing, exclusivity, and liability really work for modern creators, and how to spot bad deals and negotiate better contracts for yourself before they become expensive problems. Come for the clarity, leave with some legal quick-wins and a roadmap for lasting legal armor.

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