Hey! Welcome to the Creator Economy NYC newsletter — the premier place for all things creator economy in the Big Apple.

I spent the week in D.C. attending the White House’s inaugural “Creator Economy Conference,” bringing together 100 leading creators and industry professionals to discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping the creator economy.

Programming consisted of panels, fireside chats, breakout rooms… and a surprise visit from President Biden (who chatted with us for 20 minutes longer than scheduled).

It was an honor to be there, and I was glad to see some fellow New Yorkers like Jack Appleby, Kate Mackz, Josh Cohen, and Ian Schaefer!

Nonetheless, it’s great to be back (I missed steamy subway stations). And today, I’m sharing a recap of the conference, my takeaways, and what it means for us in the industry.

Let’s dive into it.

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Insights from the White House’s Creator Economy Conference

When President Biden walked into the room at the White House's first Creator Economy Conference, the first thing he did was take a selfie. It was a savvy move that quickly eased the tension of the most powerful man in the free world addressing a room full of content creators.

As he began his speech, Biden glanced at the traditional press huddled at the back of the room, straining to capture the best glimpse and audio of the president. Then, in a moment that encapsulated the changing media landscape, he turned to us and said:

With these words, President Biden acknowledged a big shift in how information spreads and how people get their news today. He emphasized this point, telling the room, "You are the future, you are the future," repeating how his grandchildren, ages 18 to 30, now get their news mainly from creators.

The president's recognition of the creator economy's growing influence was further underscored by his reference to its staggering value:

But beyond the economic impact, Biden touched on a more profound change: the shift in where people place their trust and attention. He noted:

This shift puts creators in what Biden called "competing camps" with traditional journalists. We're all competing for attention, credibility, and influence in a media world that's more split up than ever.

The irony of the situation wasn't lost on me. While we creators had been in the room all day, participating in discussions and engaging with officials, the "traditional" journalists had been kept in a separate room. They were only allowed in for a brief time when Biden arrived.

This stark contrast really drove home the point: the world of media and information sharing is changing, and creators are now at the center of it all…

A personal take: the power of connection

As a creator myself and having worked closely with many, I believe a significant reason for this shift is the real connection influencers build with their audiences.

Unlike traditional press, which can often feel distant or impersonal, creators are perceived as relatable individuals sharing their thoughts and experiences. This perception fosters a sense of trust and familiarity that traditional media outlets often struggle to achieve.

In the past, people didn't have many choices for where to get their news. Now, we have tons of voices and channels. There's someone for everybody, and anyone can become a journalist. This opening up of information sharing is both exciting and challenging.

But with our new influence comes a lot of responsibility. As creators become go-to sources for information, we need to hold ourselves to high standards. We need to put in place ways to make sure we're reporting fairly and accurately and to minimize the spread of misinformation.

President Biden touched on this responsibility in his speech:

In a world where, as the president noted, "It is incredibly difficult to count the number of lies people hear," creators have the power to cut through the noise and provide clarity. We have the potential to, in Biden's words, "change the entire dynamic and ways we communicate."

To meet this challenge, I believe we need to focus on a few key areas:

1. Creator education: We need to teach creators about journalistic ethics and fact-checking. We could work with journalism schools and media literacy organizations on this.

2. Transparency and platform accountability: Creators should clearly label their sources and distinguish between facts, opinions, and sponsored content. And platforms should promote responsible content, clearly labeling different types of information. You know, I actually really like X’s “Community Notes” feature.

3. Industry standards: The creator community could set up groups to create and maintain standards, kind of like what traditional media has with press councils.

As we figure out this new world, I think we'll see new kinds of collaborative journalism, where traditional media, independent creators, and audiences work together to cover events and issues more thoroughly and with more nuance.

The future of information isn't just about content; it's about context, connection, and community. And that's exactly what the creator economy is good at providing. As President Biden said, we are the new possibilities, and the potential for positive change is huge. It's up to us to grab this moment and use our influence to build a better-informed world.

Beyond Biden: key convos at the conference

It's worth noting that while Biden's speech was a highlight, the conference covered a range of crucial topics that stood out to me. A panel on mental health and creator burnout featuring Joel Bervell, Lexi Hidalgo, and Kate Mackz explored the double-edged sword of social media - its power to connect and its potential for backlash.

The discussion on AI in the creator economy, led by Zohar Khan and Dr. Arati Prabhakar (Director of the Office of Science and Tech Policy), tackled pressing issues like content scraping by big AI co’s to train models and the need for new IP laws.

And a conversation between Hannah Williams and Deputy Treasury Secretary Wally Adeyemo addressed the economic challenges creators face, from healthcare access to fair compensation from platforms.

These discussions underscored for me the complexity of our rapidly evolving field and the importance of creators having a seat at the table as policies are shaped. While there's still much to figure out, seeing these issues discussed at such a high level gives me hope for the future of our industry.

Featured Event (next week!)

​As summer approaches its final weeks, join us for an exclusive evening of networking and celebration at the beautiful Maxwell Social in Tribeca.

​Come mix and engage with fellow leading creators, innovative marketers, forward-thinking brands, and visionary founders who are shaping the future of content and influence in the Big Apple.

Shoutout to our community partners for this event:

• Teachable: the no-code platform for creators who want to build more impactful businesses through courses, coaching, and digital downloads. Start for free.

• Siftsy: the comment section analytics tool marketers and managers rely on. Book a demo today.

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Thanks so much for reading! Let me know what you thought by replying back to this email!

See you next week,

Brett