Dave Jorgenson and Lauren Saks will present a session titled “News Creators: The Audiences You Need Are Already Out There. Are You Ready to Meet Them?” at the World News Media Congress in Marseille in June 2026.
The session draws from their work co-founding Local News International (LNI), an independent, creator-led media company launched in mid-2025 alongside former Washington Post director of video Micah Gelman.
Jorgenson launched the @WashingtonPost TikTok account in May 2019, building what became known as the “Washington Post Universe” with 1.9 million TikTok followers and 680,000 YouTube Shorts subscribers over six years, earning eight Webby Awards including multiple “Best Creator” honors.
Saks served as Deputy Director of Video at The Washington Post, overseeing social, live, politics and international video, after a decade building PBS Digital Studios from the ground up.
The duo departed The Washington Post in July 2025, citing insufficient institutional support for short-form video innovation, with Jorgenson stating he now has “zero regrets” about the move.
By February 2026, less than a year after launch, LNI surpassed 250,000 YouTube subscribers, with Jorgenson’s newsletter growing rapidly among young men who identify it as their primary news source.
LNI aims to build a “modern version of what The Daily Show was in 2004” — a cultural touchstone that makes news compelling for audiences disengaged from traditional outlets.
The company operates on a diversified business model combining platform earnings, sponsorships, grants, consulting for newsrooms and non-profits and direct member support.
Humour remains a core editorial principle at LNI, a consistent element since 2019 that Jorgenson says will never change despite evolving platforms and content formats.
This principle is supported by Reuters Institute research showing 20% of people across age groups actively seek fun in their news consumption.
Jorgenson recently co-hosted a workshop titled “A 101 Guide to Doing Serious Journalism That Brings a Smile” at the International Journalism Festival in Perugia, reinforcing his role as a leading voice on blending editorial rigour with audience engagement.
He maintains a disciplined schedule of producing five videos per week, intending to continue this pace during the Marseille congress while incorporating local surroundings into his content.
LNI’s presence at the congress serves as a working model demonstrating how independent, creator-driven journalism can successfully reach audiences that legacy institutions have struggled to engage.
