Spring/Summer 2025

Making news feel as if it’s coming from a trusted friend, or at least a trusted source, is not a new concept in journalism. But where people go to find it has changed dramatically: more Americans now get their news directly from social media than from any other source.

There are compelling reasons for journalists and news organizations to try to establish a presence on these platforms. Chief among them: they are where growing numbers of people get their information.

In the 2025 Spring/Summer issue of Nieman Reports, Ryan Y. Kellett and Ben Reininga take a look at what lessons the media industry might take from the social media creator space, which has expanded from a niche segment of the news industry into an increasingly powerful force.