Good afternoon,

In 2020, we launched the Better Internet Initiative -- a 501(c)(3) fellowship for YouTube creators -- in an effort to help existing content makers educate their audiences with research-driven, authentic material. Too often the loudest voices on these platforms are the least informed. Our view is that the best way to improve the quality of discourse is to empower those interested to be credible, better messengers. The pilot initiative was a success, and we’re excited to expand the program in 2021. 

The Better Internet Initiative is a 501(c)(3) fellowship for YouTube creators. As part of the fellowship, we provide creators with monetary stipends, factual briefs, and regular programming in exchange for publishing topical 15- to 30-second interstitial messages within their videos (or full pieces of content if they so choose). These videos focus on different initiatives -- always pegged to topical issues affecting millions of Americans. Last year we focused on two critical topics: COVID-19 health information (~80% of content), and non-partisan voting information. 

The fellowship also serves as a means of distributing research and insights from Fellow Americans’ work. In fact, as the pandemic spread over the summer last year and Fellow Americans pivoted to produce and test more COVID-19 content, we fed those learnings back into the Better Internet Initiative community and worked closely with our creators to make content that evidence showed would increase knowledge and change behavior around COVID-19. 

We’re excited about the expanded program currently kicking off. The program will continue to focus on issues of healthcare and COVID-19, while also tackling climate, democracy reform, and taxes and economic justice. In addition to a larger community of creators, more content and expanded reach, the 2.0 version will also feature deeper relationships with creators, and a greater emphasis on mentors, collaborations, and community building.

Check us out! You can follow along at our website at www.betterinternetinitiative.org for more information and updates. In the meantime, we are looking for collaborators/sponsors for upcoming content if you are working in any of our program areas, as well as speakers/mentors to work with our creators. Reach out to tiffany@incite.studio with any questions or opportunities.

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