Reginaldo Osnildo
Thinking about launching a Substack news site but feeling stuck? This is your sign to start. Here’s how to get past fear and make it happen.
Hey, it’s Reginaldo Osnildo here.
I know exactly what you might be thinking right now…
“I love the idea of launching my own newsletter or local news site—but who am I to do that?”
“What if no one reads it?”
“What if I fail?”
Let me tell you the truth: every single person who’s ever started something meaningful has felt exactly like that.
Including me.
But here’s the difference between people who wish they started a local journalism project—and the ones who actually do:
They start anyway.
And today, I want to give you a little nudge to take that first step.
1. You Don’t Need to Be an Expert
You don’t need:
- A journalism degree
- 10 years of newsroom experience
- A perfect writing voice
- Thousands of followers
You just need:
- Curiosity
- Care for your community
- The ability to show up every week
- A platform like Substack (free, simple, and built for this)
That’s enough.
2. You Don’t Need to Cover Everything
This is a big one.
You’re not launching a newspaper empire on day one.
You can start with:
- One story a week
- A short newsletter with 3 local updates
- A single neighborhood or issue
Don’t try to be everything for everyone. Just be something valuable for someone.
3. No One Is Watching—Yet (And That’s Good!)
One of the coolest things about starting small is that you get to experiment in peace.
- Try different formats
- See what resonates
- Find your voice
- Build systems
Don’t worry about the first 10 readers. Focus on making it great for them—the rest will come.
4. Fear Means You Care
That nervous feeling? It’s not a sign to quit—it’s a sign this matters to you.
That’s a good thing.
You’re not afraid of publishing. You’re afraid of:
- Being ignored
- Being judged
- Not being “enough”
But here’s what really happens when you launch your local newsletter:
- Someone thanks you for covering their neighborhood
- A small business asks to advertise
- A reader tells you, “I didn’t know this was happening—thank you.”
That’s the power of showing up.
5. There’s a Community Waiting for You
There are people in your town right now who:
- Feel unheard
- Want better information
- Need local context
- Are ready to support something new
They’re not looking for perfect. They’re looking for someone who cares.
And that person? It might be you.
6. You Only Need to Start Once
You don’t need to build the whole thing overnight.
You just need to:
- Pick a name
- Write a short “Why I’m Starting This” post
- Share the link with 5 people
- Hit publish
After that, it gets easier.
You build momentum. You grow. You learn.
But you only need to start once.
You’re Ready—And I’ve Got Your Back
If you’re still reading, it’s because something in you knows this is the right move.
So here’s what I want you to do next:
Grab the full guide I wrote to help people just like you launch a local newsletter with confidence.
👉 Local Journalism on Substack: How to Create a Low-Cost, Monetizable News Site and Newsletter Network
Inside, you’ll find:
- A 30-day plan to go from “idea” to “publishing”
- Content templates so you never face a blank page
- Reader growth tips and engagement strategies
- Monetization options that feel natural and ethical
- Real-world advice for solo creators and growing teams
You don’t have to wing it.
You just have to start.
And I’ll walk with you every step of the way.