In an era of misinformation and quick headlines, two journalists decided to slow things down and show audiences how truth is actually made. Howtown, a YouTube channel launched in 2024 by award-winning science journalists Joss Fong and Adam Cole, is doing just that, bringing transparency, curiosity, and storytelling together in a way that feels both fresh and necessary. The channel asks one simple but powerful question: “How do we know that?”
In just over a year, Howtown has grown into one of the most respected indie journalism projects online. With videos unpacking complex topics like COVID-19 data, media bias, and viral science myths, the channel has earned critical acclaim and a loyal audience that values depth over drama.
Their clear, relatable explanations and honest approach even won them the News Creator Award in 2025, a recognition of their unique contribution to digital science reporting.
Joss Fong is no stranger to shaping how science reaches audiences. Before Howtown, she was one of the creative forces at Vox, where she helped build its video department into a YouTube powerhouse, producing explainers that crossed 3 billion views. Her reporting won several science journalism awards and helped define a new standard for digital storytelling.
Adam Cole’s path was equally fascinating. Originally trained as a biologist in Oregon, he switched to journalism after realizing his real passion lay in explaining science, not just conducting it.
At NPR, he made a mark producing creative audio and visual pieces and later launched Skunk Bear, a fun, fact-based science channel that became a hit in its own right. He also worked on Netflix’s Explained, blending narrative skill with sharp scientific insight.
Together, Fong and Cole wanted more creative freedom and fewer corporate constraints. So they teamed up to launch Howtown, a creator-led newsroom that explores not just what’s true, but how we know it’s true.
Their approach feels refreshingly open: they don’t just tell audiences facts but show the behind-the-scenes work of research, reporting, and verification. It’s science journalism that doesn’t hide its process.
Each Howtown video feels like a conversation rather than a lecture. Instead of polished anchors or flashy effects, the duo uses animation, on-camera honesty, and data visualization to make complex topics accessible. The focus isn’t on breaking news, it’s on building understanding.
Fong and Cole often collaborate with other popular science creators like Hank Green and Cleo Abram, expanding their reach while maintaining credibility.
Their storytelling style, deeply rooted in curiosity, gives audiences what most modern news lacks, transparency. They reveal their sources, research process, and even doubts, making viewers feel part of the discovery rather than just passive consumers. In a digital world filled with sensational claims, Howtown feels like a calm space for thinking.
Running a journalism channel independently isn’t easy, but Fong and Cole have created a business model that works. Their income comes from a mix of YouTube ads, Patreon support, brand partnerships, and consulting or speaking engagements.
YouTube’s ad revenue forms the base, each video earns through the platform’s Partner Program, but since ad rates fluctuate, it’s hardly reliable. That’s where Patreon comes in. In 2024, they launched a membership page where fans contribute monthly, helping fund new videos and guest contributors while cushioning against demonetization issues.
They also collaborate with educational brands and science organizations, ensuring all sponsorships are clearly disclosed to maintain transparency. Beyond YouTube, both Fong and Cole earn from speaking at journalism and science events, advising research groups, and occasionally contributing to shows like Explained. This mix of income allows them to prioritize quality reporting over viral trends.
Howtown is more than a YouTube channel, it’s part of a growing movement redefining what journalism can look like in the creator economy. With their combined experience, honesty, and storytelling skills, Joss Fong and Adam Cole are showing that independent creators can not only survive outside big media but also build trust, one fact at a time.
As misinformation continues to spread online, Howtown’s mission, to explain how we know what we know, feels more relevant than ever. It’s a reminder that curiosity, not clicks, might just be the key to rebuilding public trust in news.
