A new chapter in our story
Updates about our future
Dear reader,
Thank you for supporting our work. We wanted to share some important updates in our editorial journey that mark a turning point in our trajectory.
A new name.
The Unfortunate Truth was my debating catchphrase in high school. However, over the years, it has evolved significantly since I started naming it as a media outlet in college. But, it has become too associated with my personal brand and is not enough about you or our mission, which is to serve vulnerable communities. That is why we are changing the name of our parent organization to Bottom Up Media (BUM). We understand this name is different, unique, and quirky. But it represents our mission and becomes easier to be taken seriously by journalism organizations, and also have some fun.
We won’t be rolling out this name until 2026, so if you have any strong objections about the name, please let us know. We can continue to operate under the banner of The Unfortunate Truth, but your feedback is key.
A new way to support us.
We’ve officially launched a paid membership for our most loyal supporters who want to help sustain our work — and we’re so grateful to the first 25 people who’ve joined us through TikTok! If you’re currently subscribed on TikTok, please be sure to switch over to Substack to continue receiving all your benefits.
As a member, you’ll get:
Access to bonus short-form videos
Full-length interviews with leading experts
Direct access to our founder, Rahim Jessani
First dibs on exclusive merch and special discounts
The chance to directly support youth-led advocacy journalism
Your support makes our mission possible — thank you for being part of it.
Collaborations with communities and creators
Over the past couple of months, we’ve joined two incredible organizations that are helping us collaborate with other newsrooms and creators in meaningful ways. Earlier this year, we became part of
a project that “allows creators, at all levels, to funnel their advocacy into a space of change and power building.” We’ve also joined the Tiny News Collective — a nonprofit dedicated to supporting early-stage news founders and entrepreneurs who are building the next generation of news outlets.We’re excited about how these partnerships will elevate our work and, most importantly, better serve you.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reply to this email. Thank you so much for your continued support.
Best regards,
Your friendly neighborhood journalist,
Rahim