From Network Newsroom to Solo Creator: How Journalists Like Chris Cillizza Are Redefining Media Independence

The sudden absence of structure can be crushing. When a high-profile departure happens in the newsroom, the ripple effects are immediate and disorienting. For political commentator Chris Cillizza, the 2022 separation from his cable news position left him in a state of professional disarray that lasted weeks. “I felt ashamed, embarrassed, and like I had failed,” he recalls, “even though I wasn’t sure what I had done wrong.” The daily rhythm that had organized his entire career—the stories to chase, the segments to prepare, the newsroom camaraderie—suddenly evaporated, leaving only an eight-hour gap between school drop-off at 7:45 a.m. and pickup at 3:30 p.m.

That void, however, became an unexpected catalyst.

The Pivot: From Cable News Anchor to Substack Publisher

Rather than scramble for another traditional media slot, Cillizza chose a different path: he built his own media operation. What began as a forced reckoning with unemployment transformed into So What, his Substack newsletter, complemented by YouTube content and appearances on Monumental Sports Network’s Politics Aside. The strategy worked. By developing a direct relationship with readers and viewers, he replaced the gatekeeping structure of institutional media with genuine audience engagement.

His experience mirrors a broader industry shift. Jim Acosta and other former network colleagues have similarly migrated to independent platforms, discovering audiences that newsroom bosses once controlled. “The most rewarding part is building your own thing,” Cillizza explains. “If I want to change my video format or adjust my publishing schedule, I just do it. No bureaucracy. No approval process.” That autonomy comes at a cost—no salary safety net means income volatility—but for many established journalists, the trade-off proves worth it.

The Reality Check: What Independent Journalism Actually Demands

Yet independence isn’t romantic. Every journalist who’s made the transition points to the same challenge: uncertainty. Without institutional backup, the financial floor collapses. Cillizza learned quickly that self-employment requires more than editorial talent; it requires business acumen. He and his wife recently formalized his operations under Cheney Road Productions, an LLC that represents what he calls “version 2.0” of his independent career.

For newsroom veterans, the adjustment extends beyond finances. Cillizza admits he misses the collaborative energy of a traditional newsroom, even as he recognizes that such environments have fundamentally changed. “The newsroom culture I grew up with in the 2000s doesn’t really exist anymore,” he observes. The camaraderie is gone, but so is the bureaucratic friction that once slowed editorial decisions.

Life on Your Own Terms

What independent journalism does deliver is agency. Cillizza no longer wakes up with dread about newsroom politics or corporate mandates. More importantly, he’s reclaimed work-life boundaries that institutional employment had eroded. “I don’t feel guilty anymore telling someone I can’t make a TV hit because I’m going to watch my son play soccer,” he says. “That’s my first priority now. Everything else pales in comparison.”

His recent Substack pieces reflect this new freedom: interviews with medical professionals about political figures, deep dives into upcoming 2026 gubernatorial races, and conversations with former colleagues like Jim Acosta, now working similar independent paths. The content is driven by his interests, not ratings or executive preferences.

Advice for the Next Generation

Cillizza’s counsel to younger journalists remains grounded: stay in newsrooms while you can learn the fundamentals. But for established reporters considering the leap, his message is blunt: “Legacy outlets don’t care about you—no matter how much they claim everyone is family. They’ll keep you until the financial math changes. Then you’re gone.”

That cold calculus is precisely why more seasoned journalists are transitioning to independent platforms. The industry is contracting, but opportunity exists for those willing to treat journalism as entrepreneurship rather than a nine-to-five position.

“I never thought I’d be running a small business,” Cillizza reflects. “But I think a lot more journalists are going to be exactly here soon.” The freedom to control your output, your schedule, and your career direction—despite the financial precarity—has proven more valuable than he expected.

For journalists navigating similar crossroads, the message is clear: the old media infrastructure is fading, but the demand for quality analysis and storytelling has never been stronger. The challenge isn’t whether independent journalism can work. It’s whether you’re willing to build it yourself.