The Washington Post has debuted its first creator-led video series through its newly established creator network, adopting an IP-sharing model that allows creators to retain ownership of their content, Sara Kehaulani Goo, president of the network, told Digiday at the Digiday Publishing Summit in Vail, Colo.

Under the model, creators hired by the Post retain ownership of their intellectual property rather than signing it over to the publisher. Goo said the arrangement reduces upfront costs compared to a traditional model in which the publisher retains IP, which would require high fixed salaries, heavy production investment, or large guarantees and buyouts.

“They’re used to doing that, and frankly, that saves us all a lot of money,” Goo said, referring to creators producing content with their own equipment and resources.

The Post plans to launch a series with roughly half a dozen creators every few weeks across different verticals. Each series consists of 6 to 10 videos.

Revenue Model and First Sponsor

The Post will generate revenue from the program through brand sponsorships and share it with creators, according to Digiday. Samsung is the network’s first sponsor. Goo declined to provide financial specifics.

The first series, “Let’s Talk Numbers,” debuted in late March with personal finance creator JC Rodriguez. The show interviews people about their personal finance decisions. Content is co-published on both the creator’s own channels and The Washington Post’s platforms.

Vetting and Editorial Standards

Goo said her team uses AI tools to analyze creators’ published content across platforms and evaluate brand safety. The tools also monitor ongoing creator output. The Post verifies creators’ professional credentials, shares its ethics policy, and fact-checks each piece of creator content before publication.

“This allows us to control the quality for our audience and for any sponsors we work with,” Goo said.

Broader Context

The launch follows the Post’s February layoffs, which affected approximately one-third of its staff, according to The Guardian. Editor in chief Matt Murray described the cuts as part of a “strategic reset.” 

Goo said the creator network operates as a separate business unit and predates the restructuring by eight months. “This whole division of the company has nothing to do with our recent restructuring at all,” she said.

The Post also launched “Verified,” a Creator Economy newsletter on Beehiiv, authored by former political reporter Dylan Wells, in February.

Reuters Institute data shows that 70% of media leaders surveyed expressed concern that creators are drawing time and attention away from publishers’ content. Half said they planned to partner with creators to distribute content. “As a brand in news, it makes sense to be that bridge for consumers, to help them find trusted creators,” Goo said.

Goo previously served as Editor-in-Chief of Axios and managing editor at NPR before joining the Post in August 2025 to lead the creator initiative.