A Substacker on Covering the Supreme Court

Issue #296 | Dec. 5, 2024

For decades, coverage of the U.S. Supreme Court has been dominated by legacy media. But the rise of independent journalists is starting to disrupt that monopoly. This week, Erin Reed, a transgender journalist and content creator with nearly half a million followers on TikTok and a popular Substack newsletter, made history as one of the first trans content creators to receive press credentials for a Supreme Court trial.

Reed covered a landmark case on transgender healthcare, blending real-time updates, legal analysis, and personal insight to bring her audience into the courtroom in a way mainstream outlets rarely do.

From sharing live updates and providing links to Supreme Court oral arguments to organizing interactive discussions, she brought an accessible, community-driven approach to a space typically reserved for the establishment press.

Reed’s coverage shows how content creators are carving out space in old school institutions. By covering the Supreme Court on platforms like Substack and TikTok, she’s pioneering a model of reporting and changing people’s notions of what it means to report from the highest court in the land. Read our interview with Reed here.

– Taylor Lorenz, Passionfruit Contributor

PLATFORMS

When Platforms Fail: A Case Study in YouTube’s Creator Support Gap

Why it’s so hard to get “customer service” from video platforms.

By Lon Harris, Passionfruit Contributor

single design with a cutout of an older woman over an image of the world

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If the above image got you excited, you should read this

Sorry, this isn’t an advertisement for that weird B12 powder they’re selling on TikTok Shops. It’s a little friendly unpaid promotion of our friends at The Small Bow, the best newsletter for understanding addiction, recovery, and sobriety (without all the preachy stuff). Even if you don’t have a problem and love a good holiday party, that slope gets particularly slippery this time of year, and The Small Bow is a great resource for ~~creative geniuses~~ users and non-users alike.

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IN THE BIZ

VidCon announced the lineup for its 2025 convention.
Cameo’s new creator-oriented product, CameoX, is now available to all.
Spotify Wrapped 2024 has arrived.
Threads is testing a way to hide your replies to others’ posts.

CULTURE

Muppet Fandom Shaken By Scandal

It’s not easy being green.

By Steven Asarch, Passionfruit Contributor

READ THE FULL STORY →

TIPS & TRICKS

The Work Never Stops, So Here Are Tips For Creating Content Quickly That Doesn’t Suck

By working earlier you can set yourself up for success.

By merritt k, Passionfruit Contributor

READ THE FULL STORY →

JOB BOARD

Book of the Month is looking for a Content Creator.
Samuel Bosch is looking for a Thumbnail Designer.
RBT is looking for a Video Editor.
GSD&M is looking for a Content Creator.

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING:

This week, the “Reactorverse” podcast is joined by Addie from her channel Addie Counts to reflect on her reaction journey to 100k subscribers. 🎉

In just a few short years Addie has paved her way in the movie/tv reaction space with her earnestness and positivity and gained a loyal following in the process.

Coming from the world of musical theater, Addie shares her experience discovering the world of cinema and how it helped her grow as a person. Check our chat with her below!