An independent journalist doubled paid subscriptions after scooping everyone on the federal funding freeze

Marisa Kabas, an independent journalist who runs the newsletter The Handbasket, gained substantial recognition and financial support after breaking the story on a federal funding freeze. Her subscriber count doubled from 8,300 to 16,000, while paid subscriptions increased dramatically. This situation underscores how crucial scoops are for independent journalists who rely on subscription models. Despite her success, Kabas revealed her initial hesitation to report the story due to its impact, demonstrating the pressures that come with breaking news.

You're probably wondering why I didn't send this out earlier when I had the scoop. To be honest, I've been asking myself the same question.

The jump has been staggering. Assuming those new subscribers stick around, they should boost her annual revenue by more than $70,000.

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