5 Tips for Creating Your YouTube Channel as a Journalist
YouTube can be a powerful way for journalists to reach a wider audience, explore new content formats, and increase community engagement. Aude Favre, an experienced journalist who runs the YouTube channel “WTFake”, offers valuable advice on how to successfully make this transition while maintaining journalistic integrity. Here are five essential tips for journalists looking to become YouTube content creators.
1. Gather the right equipment
Equipment is crucial for producing quality videos on YouTube. However, you don’t need to spend a fortune to get started. Begin with a reasonable budget and upgrade as you gain experience and grow your audience. Key items to consider include:
- Camera: Use a camera with decent image quality. Many smartphones today have cameras that are more than good enough to get started.
- Microphone: Clear audio is essential. Invest in an external microphone if needed.
- Lighting: Natural light is ideal, but you can also use affordable lighting sources to improve your video quality.
- Video editing software: Learn to use a free video editing tool to edit your videos and make them more appealing.
- Stabilizer: For stable shots, consider using a tripod.
2. You don’t necessarily have to be in the spotlight
Aude Favre points out that she initially created her YouTube channel to help someone else, not to put herself forward. You don’t need to show your face to succeed as a journalist on YouTube. Focus on the content, facts, and information you share. This can help build trust with your audience by showing that you prioritize the quality of information over personal notoriety.
3. Patience and perseverance
Success on YouTube usually doesn’t happen overnight. You’ll need to invest time and effort to grow your channel and community. Be prepared to work long-term and stay patient. Consistency is key: publish regularly, maintain high-quality content, and interact with your viewers to foster growth.
4. Handling hate on YouTube
Unfortunately, YouTube can be a breeding ground for hateful comments and trolls. Aude Favre acknowledges having experienced difficult periods. To cope with this, she recommends avoiding hateful comments altogether and not letting them drain your energy. You may also consider disabling comments or moderating them strictly if needed. Keep in mind that most of these comments are anonymous and not worth your attention.
5. Crowdfunding and collaboration
To fund your YouTube channel as a journalist, consider options such as crowdfunding (Tipeee, Patreon, etc.). Aude Favre explains that she revived her Tipeee to finance large-scale investigations. Involve your community in the creation process by inviting contributions and collaborating with experts and passionate individuals. This not only improves the quality of your content but also strengthens the relationship between journalists and the wider public, helping to restore trust in journalism.
Creating your own YouTube channel as a journalist can be a powerful way to reach a broader audience, deepen fact-checking practices, and rebuild public trust in journalism. By following these five core tips—gathering the right gear, avoiding unnecessary self-exposure, being patient, handling online hate, and considering crowdfunding—you’ll be better prepared to succeed in this new era of digital journalism.