ABOUT CHUM NEWS
CHUM News is an online media outlet covering Seattle culture & society in all its eccentricity. We report on and publish what interests us: whether that’s a labor strike, a food trend, an up-and-coming artist, a gorgeous piece of local fiction, silly comics, or some hot goss. CHUM partners with (and pays) photographers, writers, and other creative people across the city to share the stories most important to them.
Over time, our goal is to nurture a passionate, institutionally supported, adequately paid creative community that can buoy Seattle’s news landscape, and shape the city’s sense of self through a passionate, supported, informed readership.
We aim to do that by:
publishing high-caliber and visually striking work you can’t find elsewhere
saying “sure, why not” to tantalizing, ambitious ideas
providing a platform for talented writers and artists from every corner of the city
paying them as much as we can
We will hold ourselves accountable to workers and readers alike: actively seeking reader feedback, and centering community input as we decide how to expand coverage as our budget and team of writers grow. (food reviews? tech-industry goss? high school sports? local bands? new books? nightlife? drag? fashion?)
On the money front: We are independently owned (by co-founders Meron Menghistab & Adam Willems) and proudly subscriber-supported. We will always work through a transparent financial model that funnels the bulk of CHUM’s income to workers.
Click here to see our budget roadmap. It explains how we will expand on our mission as our paid readership grows. That includes paying workers a better rate per assignment, reporting on a wider range of topics, building out a full-time newsroom (budget permitting!), and launching a quarterly, and then monthly, print publication delivered straight to you.
PITCH US
Have an ambitious idea you’ve been sitting on because you don’t know where to publish it? Fed up with being typecast into covering specific topics because of your identity or background? Longing for meaningful editorial support? Hit up CHUM!
We currently pay a flat fee of $150 for work. We know that is low; our #1 goal is to increase that rate. You can learn more about that HERE.
Pitch us your story at editors@chum.news
TIPS
Email us at — you guessed it! — editors@chum.news
SUBS & DONATIONS
We don’t support paywalls: We think they get in the way of spreading important news. You don’t have to pay anything to access CHUM news on our website or sign up for our monthly newsletter.
We do think CHUM and its mission are worth supporting. Our subscription levels—monthly and yearly plans—offer a range of price points and perks, including a bonus newsletter for paid subscribers, discounted or free entry to CHUM events, delightful merch, and, if you cough up enough cash, a shrine at CHUM’s workspace in your honor.
You can sign up for a paid subscription HERE, or subscribe to our free newsletter at the bottom of this page.
If you’re interested in making a larger, tax-deductible donation, please contact us at editors@chum.news
