In today’s rapidly evolving media landscape, journalists and independent creators can no longer rely on a single platform to build and sustain their audiences.

Substack for Journalists: Growing Your Audience and Impact is a practical, strategy-driven workshop led by independent journalist Aaron Parnas, designed to help you create a resilient, multi-platform presence, with Substack at the center of your voice, reporting, and community. Register today and join us on Wednesday, May 20, at 1 PM ET.

In this session, you’ll learn how to use Substack as more than just a newsletter tool. We’ll explore how it can serve as the hub of a broader ecosystem that includes social media, podcasts, video, and direct audience engagement. You’ll gain clarity on how to define your editorial identity, grow your subscriber base organically, and turn casual readers into a loyal and potentially paying community.

Through real-world examples and hands-on insights, we’ll break down how to expand your reach across platforms without diluting your message. We’ll cover key topics such as cross-platform storytelling, audience ownership vs. algorithm dependence, monetization strategies, and how to build sustainable workflows as an independent journalist or creator.

Whether you’re transitioning out of a traditional newsroom, launching your first independent publication, or looking to grow beyond a single channel, this workshop will give you the tools and mindset to expand your audience and your impact on your own terms.

Participants will receive a certificate of attendance, as well as access to the session recording, tipsheet and presentation. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to us at journalismcourses@austin.utexas.edu.

Instructor:

Aaron Parnas is one of the leading Gen Z voices shaping how news is consumed today. An independent journalist, political commentator, strategist, and attorney, Aaron has quickly become a key figure in the national political conversation, offering sharp insights at the intersection of law, media, and policy.

Nutrient pollution from agriculture and other sources persists in many U.S. waterways, affecting both drinking water and the natural environment. SciLine’s next media briefing will examine how nitrogen and phosphorus drive water pollution with impacts varying across regions, how climate change affects nutrient runoff, and the strengths and limitations of current monitoring, treatment, and policy responses. Three experts will have short conversations with a moderator and then take questions on the record.

Panelists:

• Dr. Gurpal Toor, University of Maryland
• Dr. Vera Trainer, University of Washington
• Dr. Sandra McLellan, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
• Karl Eisenhower, SciLine managing editor, will moderate the briefing.