Reginaldo Osnildo
Ready to start your own local news site? Here's everything you need to launch, grow, and monetize a community-focused Substack newsletter.
Hey there, Reginaldo Osnildo here—back one more time with a big question:
What’s stopping you from starting your own local news site?
If you’ve made it this far in the series, you’ve got everything you need to launch, grow, and monetize a sustainable newsletter on Substack.
You don’t need:
- A journalism degree
- A big media budget
- Fancy equipment or staff
All you need is:
- A voice
- A vision
- And a community that needs to be heard
Let me help you take the final step. Here's a quick recap of what we’ve covered—and how you can start today.
Step 1: Pick a Local Niche You Actually Care About
Start with your own backyard. Focus on:
- A neighborhood
- A town or region
- A topic (education, housing, arts, etc.)
The smaller and more specific, the better.
That’s how trust and traction start.
Step 2: Set Up Your Substack Site (It’s Free)
Substack makes it simple:
- Choose a name and URL
- Upload a logo or cover image
- Write your About page
- Create a free post introducing your mission
Done. You now have a live local news outlet.
Step 3: Publish Your First Few Stories
Don't overthink it. Just start.
Ideas for early content:
- An event recap
- A “What’s Happening This Week” newsletter
- An interview with a local figure
- A short editorial on a community issue
Use the templates from the earlier articles to stay consistent and clear.
Step 4: Build Your Email List (Fast)
Your newsletter’s power is in the inbox.
Grow your list by:
- Asking friends, neighbors, and local groups to subscribe
- Posting on community Facebook pages
- Attending local events with a QR signup
- Offering a “What You Need to Know This Week” free update
Start small, grow strong.
Step 5: Create a Publishing Rhythm
Stick to a regular schedule:
- 1x/week is great to start
- Use an editorial calendar
- Mix formats: news, profiles, guides, roundups
Consistency = trust.
Step 6: Add Engagement and Feedback Tools
Make your readers part of the process:
- Use polls and comment threads
- Ask for story ideas
- Publish reader-submitted columns
- Include a “Reply to this email” in every post
Local journalism isn’t just informative—it’s interactive.
Step 7: Monetize Without Selling Out
Once you have traction:
- Add a paid tier (early access, exclusive content, behind-the-scenes)
- Partner with local businesses for sponsorships
- Offer “Founding Member” support options
- Host paid events or workshops
Substack handles the tech. You handle the community.
Step 8: Expand With Purpose
Feeling momentum? Think bigger:
- Cover more neighborhoods
- Build a contributor team
- Launch a multi-city network
- Collaborate with schools or nonprofits
- Apply for grants to fund your work
You’re not just a newsletter writer.
You’re building a local media ecosystem.
You’re Ready. Here’s Your Next Step.
Everything I’ve shared in this blog series is based on a complete roadmap I created to help people like you launch real, independent local news projects on Substack.
If you’re serious about doing this for real, grab the e-book:
👉 Local Journalism on Substack: How to Create a Low-Cost, Monetizable News Site and Newsletter Network
Inside, you’ll get:
- 22 chapters of actionable guidance
- Editorial calendars and writing templates
- Monetization strategies
- Team-building tips
- Reader engagement tools
- A complete 30-day launch plan
No fluff. No tech headaches. Just real help for real creators.
Final Words from Me to You
If you’ve ever felt frustrated by the decline of local news…
If you’ve ever wished your community had better coverage…
If you’ve ever wanted to make your voice matter—
This is your moment.
You don’t need permission. You just need to start.
I believe in you. And I’m here to help you build something powerful.
Let’s bring local news back—together.