Table Of Contents:

• Headline
• Also In The News
• AMAKA Opportunities
• Calls To Pitch
• African/Remote Jobs
• International Jobs
• Scholarships/Grants/Fellowships
• And A Personal Note

Headline

Beyond MrBeast: A Different Kind of Creator Deal Story

Let's face it, creator news can feel like a broken record sometimes. MrBeast buys an island, MrBeast launches a burger joint... it's all MrBeast, all the time after all he is the biggest creator on the planet! This week's another MrBeast extravaganza announcement (Beast Games on Amazon!), but hold on, there's a different kind of creator deal brewing that deserves a closer look.

Remember that tweet from Sean Frank, CEO of Ridge Wallet, offering a cool million to a creator to join their team? We all saw it, right? Even those of us battling the ever-loving procrastination monster (‍ I mean me) felt a flicker of "maybe I should apply..."

Fast forward to today, and the big reveal is finally here: MKBHD, the tech YouTube legend with over 18 million subscribers, is joining Ridge as Chief Creative Partner! This isn't just a sponsorship deal, folks. MKBHD's got a board seat, company stake – he's practically family now.

Why This Matters: A Deeper Look

This deal goes way beyond MKBHD getting a fancy title. Here's the real story:

• MKBHD Levels Up: This signals a shift for creators. It's not just about YouTube ad revenue anymore. MKBHD is using his influence to shape the future of a brand.
• Negotiation is Key: Remember that original million-dollar offer? MKBHD didn't just take it. He negotiated a deal that fit his level and ambitions.  Lesson for Creators: Know your worth and don't be afraid to negotiate!
• The Dream Partnership: MKBHD gets a stake in the company, creative control, and Ridge remains a sponsor in his videos! This is the holy grail of creator partnerships: a win-win where everyone thrives.

Key Lesson for Brands:

• Ridge has also put creators first. They actively collaborate with creators across platforms like Twitch, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.
• They sponsor billions of views and work with thousands of passionate content creators who all have creative freedom to sponsor ridge products in their own unique way to their audience.
• The program involves cash incentives and free gear for selected creators but it goes beyond that. By having such passionate advocates these deals encourage other creators to become brand advocates too.

The Takeaway: Collaboration is King

The creator economy is booming, and this MKBHD deal is a prime example of where things are headed. Brands and creators are forging deeper partnerships, and everyone benefits.

Are you a Brand looking to collaborate with amazing creators? Look no further than our Creator Gigs Directory! We'll help you find the perfect partner to elevate your brand.

Stay tuned for more creator success stories!

Also In The News

Here's a quick rundown of some interesting developments in the social media landscape:

• Instagram Reels Gets Interactive: Instagram is testing a "Spins" feature for Reels. This allows viewers to swap out text or audio within a Reel with a single tap. Each "spin" could potentially expose the content to a new audience segment.
• X (Formerly Twitter) Doubles Down on Video: X, formerly Twitter, reinforces its shift towards video-centric content by publicly declaring its focus on becoming a "video-first platform."
• X (Formerly Twitter) Goes Long-Form: X is also catering to long-form content creators by launching articles for its Premium subscribers.
• Instagram DMs Go Paperless (Almost): Instagram is reportedly testing the ability to attach files to direct messages, potentially expanding user interaction beyond text and photos.
• TikTok Rewards Expand Globally: TikTok's Effect Creator Rewards Monetization Program is spreading the wealth! The program is expanding to 33 new regions with a lower payout threshold, making it easier for creators to earn money.
• Music Comes Alive on Spotify: Spotify is rolling out music videos in-app and via desktop for select countries, further blurring the lines between music streaming and video platforms.
• Pinterest Promotes Body Positivity: Pinterest is testing a "Body Type" filter for women's fashion searches in the US and Canada. This allows users to filter results for a more inclusive browsing experience.
• Reddit Unveils Pro Analytics Suite: Power users rejoice! Reddit is launching a new pro analytics suite featuring AI-powered insights, performance data, publishing tools, and a dedicated dashboard.
• Transparency on TikTok: TikTok is now giving users the ability to see who has viewed their stories, adding a new layer of user engagement and potentially impacting creator strategies.

Source: Girl Power Marketing

AMAKA Opportunities

1. AMAKA is Seeking a Dynamic Strategist/Researcher for a short-term research project! To apply, send your CV/portfolio to partnerships@amaka.studio by March 22nd, 2024!
2. The Referral Fund: Did you know that you can earn up to $500 just by referring your friends to join AMAKA? It's simple really! In four easy steps you could be cashing in on your connections 😌! Get your Free AMAKA Account and Sign up for the Referral Fund HERE
3. Webinars: We are officially launching monthly webinars for AMAKA Creators FREE every month! Our first one is all about landing paid brand partnerships and you can sign up for it HERE. Remember you need to be registered and you can do so for FREE here. 
4. Join our AMAKA community on WhatsApp to connect with other creators and stay updated: [link to WhatsApp group].

Want to start your own Newsletter and wondering about how exactly to monetize and get paid book a FREE One On One with me today!

Calls To Pitch

1. $175 Observer is looking for themed #books roundup pitches Can be based on season/genre/holiday/trend/'best of'/etc. Email w/ clips to artnews@observer.com
2. The Drift is looking for fiction and pitch nonfiction for Issue Thirteen! Send stories to fiction@thedriftmag.com and essay ideas to pitches@thedriftmag.com. 
3. $1/w Zuri is looking for #freelance #pitches for a human rights-focused nonprofit’s blog. Pitches should come from the community with a focus on #MentalHealth or human rights.
4. $300 PublicSource seeks to elevate the voices of people in the Pittsburgh region and bring unique perspectives to our audience. 
5. $750 The Daily Beast is looking for writers who lead with kindness for a piece about believers of the unbelievable.
6. $350 TODAY show is open to personal essay pitches! Looking for some fun and juicy relationship stories, as well as first-person bounces on pop culture news. 
7. $300 np quarterly is looking for stories from workers who organized their workplace for better wages, fair treatment, or work protections 
8. Up to 25,000 Rupees ($300)  queerbeat is open to pitches from LGBTQIA+ writers in India 
9. $500 WIRED politics team is looking for pitches! They focus on disinformation, online extremism and conspiracies, tech legislation, influencers and grifters, AI in politics, and anything strange or manipulative in that vein.
10. MensHealthMag-friendly essays and Q+A/profile ideas—ties into masculinity, fitness, action/thriller/genre stuff, etc— for our culture/entertainment section. 
11. $150 SheKnows, is looking for personal essay pitches about open relationships. If you are or have been in an open relationship/marriage and have something unique to say about it, DM or email: mryan@shemedia.com
12. Insight conflict are looking for new content about local peacebuilding in contexts affected by mass atrocities. Deadline: March 24

African/Remote Jobs

1. South Africa| Corruption Watch seeks to fill the position of Head of Stakeholder Relations and Campaigns. Closing date: 5 April 2024 
2. Talent Boom is looking to fill 12 different Tech Roles in CPT and Remote/SA.
3. Become a Remote Project Evaluation Consultant – Women Empowered Guatemala Emergency Programs Review/Analysis at Global Communities (GC). Deadline 31 March 2024
4. Lightup Impact is hiring for these three roles, Monitoring & Evaluation, part-time. Communications Officer, full-time. Program Coordinator, full-time
5. Chemonics International seeks Country Representatives for the Power Africa Empower Southern Africa (ESA) Program funded by USAID. ESA is a 5-year regional program that covers South Africa, Lesotho, Eswatini, Botswana, Namibia, Angola, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Madagascar, Comoros and Sao Tome and Principe. Closing date: 20 Apr 2024
6. Girls Not Brides is hiring a Communications Officer based in Africa
7. Girl Up, United Nations Foundation Africa's PAID internship program is now accepting applications!
8. Zimbabwe | African Sun Hotels | Marketing and CSR Officer
9. South Africa | Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship | Systems Justice Innovation Consultant.
10. Ghana | GIZ Ghana | Technical Advisor
11. South Africa | National Business Initiative (via Gugu McLaren-Ushewokunze) | Senior Project Manager.
12. Senegal | NIYEL | Program Officer
13. Mali | Première Urgence Internationale | Grants Officer
14. Kenya | Refugee Studies Centre, University of Oxford (via Sarah Ghazal Salehi) | Junior Research Facilitator
15. Multiple Locations | Search for Common Ground (via Inge Brees) | Policy and Coordination Officer.
16. Senegal | TrustAfrica | Project Accountant, African Youth Panel
17. Chad | United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) | Communication Specialist: 
18. Cape Verde | United Nations Volunteers | Partnership & Mobilisation Support Officer: 
19. Senegal | Wetlands International Afrique (via Dr Cherif Samsedine Sarr) | Coordonnateur/trice de Programme

1. Senegal | kuumbati.com (via Coumba Toure) | Infographistes et traducteurs: 
2. Multiple Locations | PEP - Partnership for Economic Policy | Call for Africa Fellows in Education Program (AFEP) 2024-2025
3. Multiple Locations | Investisseurs & Partenaires - I&P | West Africa: CATAL1.5°T Pre-Acceleration:
4. South Africa | Media Development Investment Fund (via Nolwazi Tusini) | Amplify South Africa:

International Jobs

1. UAF A&P is expanding its creative community of storytellers! They are looking for feminist writers, editors, rapporteurs, and translators from and based in Asia and the Pacific
2. 20c/w Wealth of Geeks is looking for personal finance writers to cover side hustles, making money, retirement and investing.
3. $100K Civil Eats is seeking an experienced Senior Editor who cares deeply about food and agriculture policy, social justice, and environmental issues
4. $35 per hour CNET is looking for a Freelance Writer with experience in the Web Hosting space
5. Thomson Reuters, Chief Communications Officer, NY 
6. The Huntington, Vice President Marketing Communications, LA 
7. Crocs, Director, Global Corporate Communications, CO 
8. FIFA World Cup 2026, Head of Communications, hiring in both Miami & Toronto 
9. Motion Picture Association, Executive Vice President, Media Relations & Communications, DC 
10. Netflix, Director of Communications, LA 
11. Acorns, Director of PR, remote 
12. DKC, Vice President Consumer and Lifestyle Team, LA 
13. Zeno Group, Vice President Consumer Influencer, LA 
14. BerlinRosen, Senior Vice President Brand Partnerships, NY 
15. Royal Caribbean Group, AVP Global Public Affairs, Miami
16. Viceroy Hotels, Vice President Brand Marketing, NY
17. Accor, Director, Global Communications, Network Management (Luxury & Lifestyle), Toronto 
18. Four Seasons, Director of PR & Communications, currently open in Toronto, Miami & Osaka 
19. Europe | APRI - Africa Policy Research Institute | Project Coordinator, Geopolitics Program.
20. Europe | APRI - Africa Policy Research Institute | Program Intern, Geopolitics program: 
21. Multiple Locations | Y+ Global, Her Voice Fund | Call for Applications to become HVF Ambassadors: 
22. Europe | Nordic Africa Institute | Research Assistant

Scholarships/Grants/Fellowships

1. FULLY FUNDED TO MORROCO: Apply for this Youth Sustainable Development Conference 2024 in Rabat, Morocco
2. Apply for Google’s Creative Fellowship. Deadline 5 April 
3. Thrive Grant - Thrive Philanthropy, Global opportunity for Plant-based food systems. USD 10k to 50k. Deadline: Jun 1
4. Thrive Seed Grant - Thrive Philanthropy,  Global opportunity for  Plant-based food systems. USD 5k. Deadline Jun 1
5. International Collaboration Grants 2024 - British Council, UK & Global South (specific countries), Arts. GBP 25k to 75k. Deadline Apr 30
6. Incident Emergency Fund - Digital Defenders & Hivos. Global opportunity for Digital Rights. Up to EUR 10k. Deadline: Rolling
7. Community Action Fund - NDN Collective - Mexico, US, Canada for  Indigenous Rights.  USD 15k to 40k. Deadline: Oct 31
8. Global EbA Fund, Global for Climate.  USD 50k to 250k. Deadline Apr 21
9. Bagri Foundation, UK & Global, Arts, GBP 5k to 150k, Deadline Apr 15
10. Het Actiefonds, Global, Activism, EUR 750 to 2k. Deadline Rolling
11. Eurofins Foundation, Global,  Amount not specified. Deadline Rolling
12. US Mission to Lebanon, Lebanon for Human Rights, Civic Engagement & Education. Up to USD 250k. Deadline Jul 21
13. Iskanchi Writing Competition. Winners receive publication and the coveted 'Iskanchi Magazine Prize.' Deadline: 15 April.
14. Diriyah Art Futures Emerging New Media Artists Programme: An extraordinary opportunity to work alongside the world’s most prominent digital and new media artists in this unique, supported one-year programme. Deadline: 29 April
15. Africa Prime Initiative - Ghanaian Artists' Grant Application: The Africa Prime Initiative competition invites artists from Ghana to submit their artwork for a chance to win a $2000 grant. Deadline: 30 April
16. Hampstead Art Society: Prize incluses exhibition plus cash prize of £3,000 that will go to support the winning artist in their development.  Deadline: 30 April
17. Goethe Talents Scholarship: Goethe Talents Scholarship is seeking young musicians, composers, singers, and instrumentalists aged around 20 to 30 from transitioning or developing countries. Deadline: 2 April
18. Club of Rome Communications Fellowship 2024 (fully funded & open to applicants from all regions of the world) Application Deadline: 5 April 2024

And A Personal Note:

Last week, a few of you reached out with feedback and kind words, and let me tell you, it absolutely made my day! Putting together this newsletter takes time, and knowing it's reaching and helping creators like you is incredibly rewarding.

Truth be told, I've been obsessed with the creator economy and the ever-evolving social media landscape for years. This newsletter is my way of sharing that passion with all of you. It's like getting to geek out with fellow creators about the latest trends and coolest features!

So, if you have any feedback, requests for specific topics, or just want to chat, don't hesitate to reply in the comments or find me on Linkedin. I post tons of job openings and creator opportunities there, so be sure to connect! And hey, if you ever feel like having a brainstorming session or just want to chat about the creator life, my calendar is open for free consultations. Let's connect!

Looking forward to hearing from you,