82 - David Craig, USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism
- 0.5
- 1
- 1.25
- 1.5
- 1.75
- 2
DESCRIPTION
In Ep. 82 of Earned, Conor sits down with author, professor, Emmy-nominated TV producer, and media industry expert David Craig. As a clinical professor at USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, David’s research focuses on “Social Media Entertainment” and the rise of “Creator Culture.” To start the show, we ask David about the looming threat of a TikTok ban in the U.S., and he shares his views on how the U.S. government can and should regulate social media platforms responsibly. Next, we dive deeper into David’s area of expertise—Creator Culture—and he unpacks the driving forces behind the industry’s recent evolution. We explore the growing number of business models creators can use to earn revenue, as well as the growing number of job opportunities within the social media and creator landscape, leading to a thought-provoking discussion around how Creator Culture will shape the future of labor. Conor and David then share their own experiences and learnings from testing their power as creators on social platforms. To close the show, David gives us a look inside his research and writing process, and reveals what book he’s working on next!
In this episode, you will learn:
- What "Creator Culture" is, and how it has evolved over the last decade
- How governments can manage social media platforms responsibly
- Takeaways from Conor's and David's experiences testing their own power as creators
Resources:
- Creator Culture
- Social Media Entertainment: The New Intersection of Hollywood and Silicon Valley
- Wanghong as Social Media Entertainment in China
Connect with the Guest(s):
Connect with Conor Begley & CreatorIQ:
- Conor’s LinkedIn - @conormbegley
- CreatorIQ LinkedIn - @creatoriq
Follow us on social:
- CreatorIQ YouTube - @TribeDynamics
- CreatorIQ Instagram - @creatoriq
- CreatorIQ TikTok - @creator.iq
- CreatorIQ Twitter - @CreatorIQ
Today's Host

Conor Begley
Today's Guests
