Ron Charles, a former Washington Post book critic, was laid off in February. He chose to write full-time for his Substack newsletter instead of seeking a new job. Charles has gained over 34,000 followers for his independent book review coverage. Many journalists are now transitioning to independent platforms after newsroom layoffs. This shift offers freedom but presents challenges like financial instability and lack of team collaboration.
https://www.poynter.org/business-work/2026/can-independent-journalism-replace-newsrooms/