Innovation in Focus is looking for 10 newsrooms to participate in a six-month pilot of Content Credits. Content Credits is a flexible reader revenue tool for newsrooms who want to offer a pay-per-article option for readers.

Content Credits works alongside a newsroom's existing free and subscription offerings. Newsrooms maintain control over their subscription strategies, pricing, reader relationships, and editorial decisions. Each newsroom decides which articles are eligible for Content Credits, where the option appears, and how many credits readers need to unlock an article.

• The Content Credits tool will be provided to the newsrooms in this pilot for the six months for free with all revenue going to the newsrooms. After the pilot should newsrooms want to continue to use Content Credits, 20% of revenue brought in through the tool will go to Content Credits for use of the tool. 
• Content Credits offers a dedicated WordPress plugin and has tested its integration with Ghost. Other platforms that support custom scripts may also be compatible. RJI and Content Credits will confirm CMS compatibility before accepting newsrooms into the pilot. Content Credits does not currently support Medium or Substack.

Learn more about Content Credits here: https://contentcredits.com/ 

This pilot will be provided by the RJI Innovation team and start in Jan 2027. Newsrooms will meet with us on zoom to share their experiences, feedback, challenges and needs throughout the pilot. We will publish at the end of the pilot to share lessons learned and each newsroom's unique experience and feedback. 

If you have questions about this pilot please contact Eden Dinneen, Innovation in Focus Editor, edinneen@rjionline.org

The Reynolds Journalism Institute invites proposals from individuals and organizations who wish to build practical and innovative resources for local & community-centered news, journalists and the communities they serve. All fellowship projects are built, tested and launched within the span of the fellowship and must be free, accessible and open-source for journalists, newsrooms and the public to utilize. Read more.

Questions? Contact Director of Innovation, Kat Duncan duncank@rjionline.org

In this 2-part virtual workshop for beginners, attendees will learn the ins and outs of creating engaging and informative vertical storytelling experiences! According to the 2026 Digital News Report by the Reuters Institute, 77% of people globally consume online news video each week. TikTok, Instagram and YouTube are driving this growth. So if you’re not producing storytelling for vertical spaces, you’re not meeting all your potential audiences where they are!

In this fast-paced, practical course, you’ll learn the four key ingredients behind social video that performs. You’ll learn how to structure strong vertical video, write scripts that sound human (not like a news bulletin), and use layered storytelling to pack depth into every second.  We’ll explore creative formats that go beyond presenter-led video—using props, filters, and bold ideas to make your content stand out. 

This webinar series will cover:

• The four key ingredients behind social video that grabs attention and grows audiences
• Practical apps, tools, and tricks to create standout video—no big budget needed
• Real-world examples and inspiration from media, NGOs, and digital creators

Class 1: January 22, 2027, 11am CT - 1pm CT 

Hook them in: the structure of great vertical video 

• The anatomy of social video that hooks, holds, and lands
• Four proven hooks to make people stop scrolling and start watching
• Simple, practical techniques to structure your video

 Speaking in human: getting the tone right 

• Why tone matters
• The building blocks of tone: words, body language, and delivery
• How to spot (and avoid) journalese and unnecessary jargon
• How delivery and body language bring your script to life  

Class 2: January 29, 2027, 11am CT - 1pm CT

Say more, faster: mastering content density 

• What content density means—and why it matters for social video
• Standout examples of how to pack more into less time
• Practical ways to compress time using visuals, text, and graphics
• How to plan your story in layers using simple scripting frameworks

Make it standout: creative storytelling for social 

• Simple ways to make presenter-led video more engaging and less predictable
• Creative ideas from top creators who use props and visual storytelling to stand out
• Inspiring formats across topics—from politics to sport and everything in between
• A hands-on group exercise to develop a creative treatment for a complex story

Participants in this workshop will not only leave with hands-on experience and additional resources to continue their learning at home, but will also be awarded an RJI Certificate of Completion for this training workshop.

Your instructor: Laura Garcia works for BBC’s World Service, making mid-form creative explainers for YouTube as social media specialist focused on vertical video strategy and social media innovation

Your host: Kat Duncan is the Director of Innovation at the Reynolds Journalism Institute. She leads the innovation team and their programs, workshops, partnerships and initiatives. 

When this class is full, you can ask to be added to the waitlist by emailing Kat Duncan Duncank@rjionline.org