Quick Start - Journalist
Seven steps to start publishing and earning on My Local Press.
Complete Your Profile
A profile tells the community who a journalist is. Add a name, a short bio, a photo, and a primary contributing location.
Edit ProfileGet Vouched For
A journalist needs a vouch before they can publish — here's how vouching works.
Request VouchingSet Up Payouts
Connect Stripe or PayPal in Settings to get paid — how the money breaks down.
Payment SettingsCreate Your Organization
This step is optional — a journalist can always publish under their own name. But creating an organization gives them a brand, a coverage area, and the ability to invite others to work with them and publish together as a legitimate local news operation.
My OrganizationsStart Publishing
Journalists cover their community the way they think it should be covered. The platform supports text, audio, video — whatever the story needs.
Beyond stories, journalists can also create events, classifieds, resources, coupons, long-form video and podcasts, and more. Explore the Create menu in the sidebar when ready.
Sell Ads to Local Businesses
Build an ad for a local business and send it for approval — how advertising works and the tiers.
Sell Subscriptions
Readers can subscribe to a journalist's editorial content — or their organization's — for a monthly price. Stories, broadcasts, and long-form videos go behind the subscription; readers see a preview and a subscribe button, and subscribing opens everything. Same 90/10 split — how subscriptions pay out.
Turn it on in Payment Settings once a payout account is connected.
Payment SettingsCommon questions about getting paid
How do journalists get paid?
Two ways: direct support from readers and local businesses, and monthly subscriptions to your stories, broadcasts, and long-form video. You keep 90% of both. Connect Stripe or PayPal in Settings and the money comes straight to you.
Is there a set rate per article?
No. There's no per-article pay and no minimum. What you earn is what your readers and backers put in.
Is it a share of ad revenue?
No. Your income comes from people who chose to support or subscribe to you.
Am I an employee?
No. Journalists who earn here are independent contractors: you decide what to cover and when, and you're paid directly. Many people contribute without earning at all.
What about refunds, fees, and cancellations?
How Payments Work covers the money in detail.
Want to Learn More?
The Journalist Guide covers how journalists earn, how the algorithm works, publishing content, using AI, and building an audience.
Journalist GuideNeed Help?
We're shipping new features on a weekly basis and refining everything based on feedback. If anything is confusing or broken, let us know — we'll fix it.
Send FeedbackWe ship updates all the time, so a page here and there can fall behind. See something off? Have a question? Let us know and we'll address it.