Reginaldo Osnildo
Take your Substack local news project to the next level by building a regional network of newsletters. Scale smart, stay connected.
Hey friend, Reginaldo Osnildo here!
If you’ve been following this blog series, you already know how to build a powerful solo Substack site that serves your local community.
But what if you’re ready for more?
More stories. More contributors. More impact.
That’s where the idea of a regional newsletter network comes in.
Instead of covering just one neighborhood or city, you expand to several connected communities—each with its own newsletter, voice, and local coverage.
Let me walk you through how to do that without losing your mission or burning out.
1. What Is a Newsletter Network?
It’s simple:
A newsletter network is a group of newsletters—often on Substack—that work together under a shared brand or mission, covering different locations or niches in a region.
For example:
- One newsletter covers City A
- Another covers nearby Town B
- A third focuses on regional issues (like environment or politics)
All three are connected, promoted together, and possibly monetized as a unified news network.
2. Why Build a Network?
Expanding into a network lets you:
- Cover more stories across your region
- Share content and resources between newsletters
- Create multiple revenue streams
- Grow your audience across nearby towns
- Bring more journalists, students, and community contributors into the fold
- Build a resilient, community-powered media brand
If local news is dying, you get to bring it back—block by block, town by town.
3. Start With What You’ve Built
Before you launch multiple newsletters, make sure your first one is:
- Stable (publishing consistently)
- Growing (email list and engagement)
- Monetized (paid subs, sponsorships, or grants)
- Systematized (templates, content calendar, workflows)
Think of it as your pilot project. Once you’ve got the playbook down, you can replicate it.
4. Create a Shared Brand or Hub
Your newsletters can have their own names, but they should be linked under one clear umbrella.
For example:
- Heartland Dispatch – [City] Edition
- Coastal Watch – Downtown | Eastside | North Shore
You can use:
- A shared website or landing page
- Shared social media channels
- A single “About” section that explains the mission of the network
This creates brand consistency and reader trust.
5. Decide on the Structure
You’ve got two options here:
Option 1: You Manage It All
You run multiple newsletters, hire or contract contributors, and maintain full editorial control.
Option 2: Collaborative Network
Each newsletter is managed by a different person or team, but everyone agrees on:
- Core values
- Posting frequency
- Quality standards
- Cross-promotion efforts
Both models work—choose what fits your bandwidth and vision.
6. Recruit Editors and Contributors
You can’t do this alone. Start reaching out to:
- Local writers in neighboring towns
- Journalism students
- Passionate residents who know the issues
- Former reporters looking for a new platform
- Subject matter experts (education, environment, etc.)
Offer:
- Revenue share or contributor pay
- Creative control within guidelines
- Visibility and platform support
- A spot in a growing, mission-driven network
Make it feel like a movement.
7. Create Shared Resources
Standardize what you can to make growth easier:
- Newsletter templates
- Editorial calendar
- Submission guides
- Sponsorship package templates
- Cross-promotional assets
- Shared analytics and strategy sessions
This keeps quality high and prevents reinventing the wheel with every new city or writer.
8. Cross-Promote Like Crazy
Each newsletter in your network should regularly:
- Link to sister newsletters
- Share updates on regional stories
- Run “Network Roundup” posts with highlights from all cities
- Recommend each other on Substack
- Tag and boost each other on social media
Together, your network becomes greater than the sum of its parts.
9. Monetize as a Group
A network opens up bigger revenue possibilities:
- Sell regional sponsorships
- Offer bundle subscriptions for all newsletters
- Pitch local foundations or grants for collaborative coverage
- Run joint events or webinars
- Create a supporter tier that funds the entire network
You’re not just selling a newsletter—you’re selling local coverage as a public service.