Online Journalism Business

Online Journalism Business Success Stories [2024]

Pat Walls

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Updated: October 8th, 2024

Thinking about making a mark in the digital world? Consider starting an online journalism business. Online journalism involves creating, curating, and distributing news and stories through digital platforms like websites, social media, and newsletters.

By focusing on producing well-researched, high-quality content, you can attract a dedicated readership eager for reliable information. This business offers the flexibility to cover niche topics that traditional media might overlook, thus engaging specific and often underserved audiences.

Starting an online journalism business does require dedication; you'll need strong writing skills, an eye for detail, and a commitment to ethical reporting. Over time, advertisers and subscribers can become major revenue sources.

If you have a passion for storytelling and a drive to inform the public, this could be a rewarding and impactful venture. The digital age is ripe for innovative journalists ready to offer fresh, trustworthy perspectives.

In this list, you'll find real-world online journalism business success stories and very profitable examples of starting a online journalism business that makes money.

1. Lioness ($540K/year)

Ariella had a background in tech communications and public affairs, but she wanted to take a more authentic and journalistic approach to storytelling. Inspired by her experience co-founding a workplace rights organization, she launched Lioness, a storytelling company that aims to connect individuals and enterprises to the media, giving untold stories more exposure and impact. Despite facing challenges during the pandemic, Lioness has attracted and retained clients through monthly retainers and referrals, and they plan to expand their services in the future to include a public policy division and their own content platform.

How much money it makes: $540K/year
How much did it cost to start: $60K
How many people on the team: 10

How I Started A Media Relations And Storytelling Company

Ariella started Lioness, a storytelling company, that currently makes $45k a month working with startups, corporations, non-profits, and individuals by democratizing access to the news media using a journalistic approach to public relations to bridge a gap helping people bring their stories forward.

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2. Dreamfruit ($12K/year)

Elizabeth Russell, creator of the Dreamfruit Almanac for Earthlings, came up with the idea after closing the doors of her integrative arts and community event space. In a moment of inspiration, she created a prototype for a moon-based planner/journal hybrid that blended her concern for the world with her faith in human compassion. She collaborated with her partner, worked with a designer to create a new website, and launched her business, attracting customers through emails and in-person events.

How much money it makes: $12K/year
How much did it cost to start: $15K
How many people on the team: 1

On Launching A Moon Based Planner And Crowdfunding My Way to $6,500

Dreamfruit Almanac for Earthlings is a unique moon-based planner and guided journal self-published by Elizabeth Russell which resulted in a successful crowdfunding campaign with over 100% community support, building a core of supportive people through live-events and community-focused marketing.

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Read by 2,598 founders