From Zero to 50K Followers: How Our Media Start-Up Went Viral

Back in 2021, after leaving the popular TV show Chatty in Georgia, I decided it was time to start something new: a journalistic media startup called JSN Media—the Journalistic Startup Network. Our mission was simple but ambitious: adapt journalism to social media and reach the audiences that traditional media was failing to capture—Gen Z and Gen Alpha.

Instead of building a website or launching a TV channel, we started on TikTok, creating content specifically formatted for social-first, vertical video. We didn’t just repurpose traditional news—we reshaped it. Articles, video segments, and additional news were transformed into short, digestible, and entertaining clips designed for younger audiences. From the beginning, we were posting three times a day, and we even created different pages for different content: entertainment, news, and more.

Initially, all of this was self-funded. We filmed, edited, and distributed content on our own. But once we secured a small bank loan, we could invest in professional equipment:

cameras, lenses, lighting, microphones, and editing software like Premiere Pro. While the production value improved, we never lost sight of what made our content unique: creative storytelling, native to social media, entertaining yet informative, digestible yet trustworthy.

The results were immediate. Our followers and views skyrocketed. People in the streets—even police officers—recognized our team and our work, asking about JSN Media. It was surreal: we were openly critical of the government, yet the impact of our work was visible even to those representing the state.

Our success came down to understanding our audience. We covered topics that mattered to Gen Z—things they cared about, not just the typical news agenda. Stressful, negative, boring stories weren’t going to attract them. Instead, we focused on engaging, relatable, and meaningful content. The result wasn’t just popularity—it was trust.

Every day, teenagers and young adults would DM us, not only praising our work but offering to help—volunteering their time and skills to contribute to our mission. This closeness created a community. People came to us with stories, insights, and tips because they trusted us. That’s something traditional media often loses—its audience.

JSN Media proved that a small, agile media startup could:

• Gain a large following quickly

• Build a trusting community

• Produce high-quality, creative content

• Operate with integrity and values

We were on track to financial sustainability through advertisements and partnerships when political events in Georgia made it impossible to continue. The authoritarian crackdown practically killed independent media in the country, cutting short our journey.

But the story of JSN Media isn’t about an ending—it’s about what’s possible. For young media entrepreneurs: if you care about your audience, embrace technology, and let go of outdated professional dogmas, you can create a media outlet that’s modern, trusted, and impactful.

We proved that it’s possible to reclaim journalism for the audience, to innovate, and to show that startups—not just traditional institutions—can lead the way.

JSN Media may have paused, but the lessons remain: care, creativity, community, and integrity are the keys to building media that matters.