Loved writing; less interested in the institution of journalism. Started a college podcast that got 800 listeners by graduation.

Industry seniors said the field was dying. Parents asked what an "online journalist" even meant.

The medium is changing faster than the discipline. Storytelling is the durable skill.

Reporting, writing, interviewing, editing, video basics, podcast production

Two years in a small newsroom. Wrote three stories a day, produced video on a tight schedule, learned everything fast.

Editorial constraints. The most important stories I wanted to tell were not the ones that drove page views.

Reporting trained me to verify before I publish. That habit later saved me when scaling to a creator audience.

Newsroom workflow, breaking news, video editing, social media for news, deadline discipline

Started a niche YouTube channel on weekends. Quit the newsroom after 14 months when newsletter income hit ₹40k/month.

Two years of average 4,000 views per video. Friends thought I was wasting a journalism degree. Imposter syndrome was an everyday companion.

Consistency in public is brutal. The middle is not romantic. Most creators quit at month 9 of nobody watching.

YouTube production, thumbnails, scripting, newsletter strategy, audience research

Channel crossed 200k subscribers. Newsletter at 18k paid subscribers. Sustainable as a one-person business with a part-time editor.

Algorithm dependency. Knowing the next 30-day dip might be permanent. Choosing health over upload schedule.

Creator income is volatile; build three streams (sponsors, courses, affiliate). Be a small business, not a celebrity.

Released first paid course; broke even in month two. Speaking at three conferences this year.

If you are a beginner — pick a topic you would research even if nobody paid you. The first 100 pieces will get no audience. They are your apprenticeship in public.

Sponsorship deals, audience research, hiring an editor, brand management, taxes, mental health routines