A Substacker on Covering the Supreme Court

CREATOR NEWSLETTER


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.


PLATFORMS

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

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

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.


IN THE BIZ


CULTURE

Muppet Fandom Shaken By Scandal

It’s not easy being green.

By Steven Asarch, Passionfruit Contributor

The X profile page for the account Muppet History appears to be burning like paper.

TIPS & TRICKS

August the duck and Babbish

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


JOB BOARD


WHAT WE’RE WATCHING:

Content for Creators.

News, tips, and tricks delivered to your inbox twice a week.

Newsletter Signup

Latest Newsletters

  • 💌 Organizing the Largest-Ever Letter-Writing Campaign

    💌 Organizing the Largest-Ever Letter-Writing Campaign

    CREATOR ECONOMY NEWSLETTER Together with: Issue 80 | November 3, 2022 Creators increasingly have power over a younger generation that often gets its news scrolling through social media feeds. This month, the White House invited more than 20 TikTok creators to meet President Joe Biden and discuss pressing political topics. And it isn’t the first…

  • 💵 Girls Who Invest

    💵 Girls Who Invest

    CREATOR ECONOMY NEWSLETTER Issue #79 | Nov. 2, 2022 Reality television has a symbiotic relationship with the creator economy. As previously covered by Passionfruit, the reality TV star-to-influencer pipeline is real. Some reality TV stars are beloved pioneers in the creator world, some are notoriously successful social media monetizers, and others spark debate on controversial…

  • 👾 Minecraft Creator Accused of Grooming

    👾 Minecraft Creator Accused of Grooming

    CREATOR ECONOMY NEWSLETTER Issue 78 | October 25, 2022 After 78 issues and over a year of producing creator-focused content for Passionfruit, this is my last note to you, dear readers! To be clear, Passionfruit isn’t going anywhere—just me. From this point forward, the newsletter will be helmed by a familiar face (err, name): Grace…