see the future of new media
the main idea: a special guest joins us for a public conversation about where independent publishing is heading—and what it means for leaders integrating new media into their authority strategy. members get priority q&a. guests are invited to listen in.
agenda (in minutes):
00-10: what's happening in independent publishing right now
10-40: conversation with our guest—where the ecosystem is going, what's actually working, and what leaders need to know 40-60: q&a (members first)
what happens: newsletter platforms power some of the most successful independent publications in the country. our guest brings a front-row view of what's working, what's not, and where the platform—and the category—is heading. this is a strategic conversation about how independent publishing fits into your category authority work: when it makes sense to build, when it makes sense to leverage, and how to evaluate the decision for your specific situation.
guest: Francis Zierer is the editor of Creator Spotlight, beehiiv's newsletter and podcast cataloguing how creator businesses grow and monetize — from independent, newsletter-based journalists to lifestyle YouTubers to the strategists and entrepreneurs serving them all.
His work explores the creator as a distinct category of digital media worker; the borders (and lack thereof) between creators, journalists, and other media producers; the relationships between creators and platforms; and how creators build sustainable businesses.
what you'll see: where independent publishing is heading in 2026, what the economics actually look like for serious publishers, how platforms are evolving to support authority-driven content, and how to think about independent publishing as part of your broader media strategy—not as a side project.
the purpose: future focus. this month we mapped the landscape, saw how podcasting works from the inside, and tore down a real campaign signal by signal. this session closes the loop: a practitioner from inside the ecosystem shows you where it's going. spot the trends before they're obvious.
for nonmembers: this is an open session. guests are welcome to listen in and participate in the q&a after members. like what you see? learn more about membership at laureldevelops.com/medialab
media lab teaches executives and founders to become the definitive voice in their category through strategic media placement. members get weekly strategic sessions, direct access to working journalists, frameworks for pitching and placement, campaign teardowns, and a community of executives building category authority in outlets like Axios, Forbes, Fast Company, Newsweek and Rolling Stone.
not a member yet? join at luma.com/medialab