After two decades in corporate communications, Meredith Klein traded the boardroom for the Substack dashboard. The former Pinterest and Walmart executive launched “Meredith & The Media” in May 2025, a newsletter that now attracts more than 55,000 monthly readers by offering rare insight into how journalists and PR professionals are redefining their relationship in a fragmented media space.

“I’m filling a gap,” Meredith explains. “Journalism is being thinned out, and there’s a need to turn the spotlight on journalists.”

“Meredith & The Media” delivers exclusive interviews with leading journalists, thorough media trend analysis, and insider perspectives on the media ecosystem. Meredith’s publication has quickly attracted subscribers from major outlets such as The New York Times and Fortune, alongside brands such as Airbnb, PepsiCo, and e.l.f. Beauty

From Corporate PR to Independent Journalism

During corporate communications stints at companies including Pinterest, Walmart, and Jet.com, Meredith observed firsthand how the traditional media field was changing. As newsrooms contracted and journalists increasingly moved to independent platforms, both sides of the media equation needed new approaches.

“I started seeing a rise in Substacks,” Meredith says. She points to Parija Bhatnagar (now Kavilanz), a former CNN retail reporter who launched “Bagable,” a shopping-focused Substack. “She was a good contact of mine. She left CNN after 24 years and started ‘Bagable.’”

The movement of journalists to personal platforms created a challenging environment for PR professionals accustomed to traditional media relationships. Meanwhile, journalists were increasingly focused on building personal brands and establishing direct connections with audiences.

Meredith recognized that both sides needed guidance: “The way we were taught PR doesn’t work anymore. We used to call reporters before their segments. You don’t do that now.”

Seeing this gap in the market, Meredith made a bold decision. Rather than accept one of several chief communications officer positions offered to her, she launched her own media venture. “After 20 years at major brands, I was burnt out,” she says. “But there was liberation in creating something new and a real need for it.”

A Multi-Faceted Business Model

What distinguishes Meredith’s venture is its position at the intersection of multiple industry needs and its diversified approach to revenue generation. Where most content creators rely primarily on subscriptions or advertising, Meredith has built a more complex ecosystem.

Her primary offering is a consistent publishing schedule featuring journalist interviews every Monday, followed by media news roundups or sponsored content later in the week. “I learned quickly that overpublishing loses followers,” Meredith says. “Too many Substack pushes a week, and people unsubscribe.”

This foundation supports multiple revenue streams that work together effectively. Meredith charges $8 per month or $80 per year for premium subscriptions, generating approximately $10,000 to date. She also offers sponsored content opportunities, such as with boutique agency Notably PR led by Carly Martinetti.

“In August, I did a ‘Media Trends’ takeover with Notably PR,” Meredith says. “We agreed to four paid articles – one a week – where Carly and her team wrote the pieces, and I published them on Substack and LinkedIn. It got huge attention, people loved it, and we both made money.”

Beyond publishing, Meredith leverages her platform to secure speaking engagements and consulting opportunities. “Major brands and PR agencies reach out asking, ‘Can we do a media coffee with you? Can ‘Meredith & The Media’ come in and give a talk?’” These appearances provide another revenue stream.

The most powerful aspect of Meredith’s business model, according to her, is how her media interviews reinforce her consulting credibility. “The interviews open doors because clients see me talking to Forbes, Business Insider, and Fast Company, and they say, ‘That’s our dream coverage. Can we hire you to help us pitch better?’”

Meredith Klein at Forbes Power Women’s Summit

A Day in the Life: The Operating Reality

Despite her growing success, Meredith’s operation remains lean. Each interview requires about four hours of work, from research and preparation through editing and promotion. “Researching, writing custom questions, scheduling, editing, formatting for Substack, and writing a LinkedIn promo post – it all adds up,” she says.

Meredith has developed systems to maintain quality despite limited resources. She hires former newsroom editors to review her content. “I pay them to edit my interviews,” she explains. “I lose money on it, but I want the posts to be perfect. It’s expensive, but worth it.”

Her approach to personal branding is equally strategic. Meredith maintains a consistent visual identity, complete with a signature brown hat and coordinated outfits, which creates recognition at industry events. This has led to clothing sponsorships, reducing her expenses while reinforcing her media persona.

“I’ve partnered with SHEIN, a global online fashion and lifestyle retailer, and they’re dressing me for conferences like ‘Advertising Week New York,’” Meredith says. “They’ve gifted me blazers, skirts, and dresses. Now every event I do, it’s branded, my name, my picture, my Substack.”

Meredith Klein at Fast Company Innovation Festival

Impact and Proof of Concept

As Meredith shares, chief communications officers from major media companies, including Forbes, Dow Jones, and Business Insider, now pitch her directly on stories and journalist access.

Meredith’s work fills a critical need as the industry continues to change. According to the 2025 Reuters Digital News Report, news consumption has become increasingly fragmented, with roughly one-third of global respondents using Facebook (36%) and YouTube (30%) for news each week. The report also highlights the growing influence of social media creators in shaping public debates.

In this environment, both PR professionals and journalists need new frameworks for communication. Meredith has received encouraging feedback. “People tell me, ‘Your Substack is what this industry needs. It’s so helpful. We’ve signed up our entire media team.’”

The Path to Scale

Meredith’s immediate challenge is managing growth as a solo entrepreneur. Her year-one goal is clear: “To establish myself as a respected Substack journalist with the top media Substack, interviewing leading journalists about what’s driving their coverage.”

She has already secured press passes to major industry events, including the “Forbes Power Women’s Summit,” “Fast Company Innovation Festival,” and “Advertising Week New York,” thereby cementing her legitimacy as a media entity. “I have them hung up with pride,” she says. “When I go to these events, PR people say, ‘Come with us to the media green room.’”

Looking forward, Meredith plans to maintain her focus on quality interviews while expanding her capacity. “My goal is to be the talent, attend events, do interviews, and have a crew handle filming, lighting, recording, transcription, and posting,” she explains.

As her audience and revenue grow, she sees potential to expand into new formats, particularly podcasting. “People tell me, ‘You should do a podcast, it’d be great,’” Meredith says. “I just need the money to catch up so I can hire a team.”

According to the Reuters Digital News Report, more than half of respondents (58%) are concerned about distinguishing truth from misinformation online. Meredith’s focus on credible journalism and media insight serves a crucial function. 

She aims to make “Meredith & The Media” the premier resource bridging PR professionals and journalists while helping others “tell better stories, craft smarter pitches, and support reporters in producing stronger journalism.”

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