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Isabella Ortiz

From Journalism Undergraduate to Full-time YouTuber & Newsletter Writer

Last updated: Jan 1, 2025

Independent Content Creator in Content & Creator Economy · São Paulo, Brazil

Journalism graduate who quit a stable newsroom job for the creator economy. Two years of nobody watching, then slowly an audience. Writing the real career story behind a 200k subscriber channel — including the months I almost gave up.

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Career Timeline

Education2011-2015
Journalism Undergraduate
UNAM
Loved writing; less interested in the institution of journalism. Started a college podcast that got 800 listeners by graduation.
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ContextLoved writing; less interested in the institution of journalism. Started a college podcast that got 800 listeners by graduation.
ChallengesIndustry seniors said the field was dying. Parents asked what an "online journalist" even meant.
LearningsThe medium is changing faster than the discipline. Storytelling is the durable skill.
Skills acquired
Reportingwritinginterviewingeditingvideo basicspodcast production
First Job2015-2017
Reporter / Producer
Regional news organisation
Two years in a small newsroom. Wrote three stories a day, produced video on a tight schedule, learned everything fast.
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ContextTwo years in a small newsroom. Wrote three stories a day, produced video on a tight schedule, learned everything fast.
ChallengesEditorial constraints. The most important stories I wanted to tell were not the ones that drove page views.
LearningsReporting trained me to verify before I publish. That habit later saved me when scaling to a creator audience.
Skills acquired
Newsroom workflowbreaking newsvideo editingsocial media for newsdeadline discipline
Career Switch2017-2019
Aspiring Creator (side project to full-time)
Self
Started a niche YouTube channel on weekends. Quit the newsroom after 14 months when newsletter income hit ₹40k/month.
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ContextStarted a niche YouTube channel on weekends. Quit the newsroom after 14 months when newsletter income hit ₹40k/month.
ChallengesTwo years of average 4,000 views per video. Friends thought I was wasting a journalism degree. Imposter syndrome was an everyday companion.
LearningsConsistency in public is brutal. The middle is not romantic. Most creators quit at month 9 of nobody watching.
Skills acquired
YouTube productionthumbnailsscriptingnewsletter strategyaudience research
Achievement2019-Present
Full-time Creator
Self-employed
Channel crossed 200k subscribers. Newsletter at 18k paid subscribers. Sustainable as a one-person business with a part-time editor.
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ContextChannel crossed 200k subscribers. Newsletter at 18k paid subscribers. Sustainable as a one-person business with a part-time editor.
ChallengesAlgorithm dependency. Knowing the next 30-day dip might be permanent. Choosing health over upload schedule.
LearningsCreator income is volatile; build three streams (sponsors, courses, affiliate). Be a small business, not a celebrity.
OutcomeReleased first paid course; broke even in month two. Speaking at three conferences this year.
Skills acquired
Sponsorship dealsaudience researchhiring an editorbrand managementtaxesmental health routines
AdviceIf 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.

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Isabella Ortiz

Career Timeline

Journalism Undergraduate

Reporter / Producer

Aspiring Creator (side project to full-time)

Full-time Creator

Reflections & Questions from Readers