TUT relaunches into a newsletter & non-profit
After closing down in July, we are restarting our media outlet as a newsletter.
Dear friends—it’s been a while.
After two years of advocating for marginalized communities, raising money for non-profit organizations, and educating thousands of readers, The Unfortunate Truth (TUT) collapsed in July. Like many news outlets nationwide, we have been unable to pay our staff and get resources, forcing us to make the tough decision of closing down.
But since we left, the world has gotten worse, and the mainstream media hasn’t done better.
From the humanitarian crisis in Gaza to the displacement of millions in the war in Sudan, to the horrors of gun violence rocking the U.S., and to the perils of a global mental health crisis, the tragedies of the world seem to dwindle the hope we have of a better tomorrow. Like many people, we feel paralyzed, and consistently ask ourselves “What more can we do?”
Yet, after seeing brave Palestinian journalists on the ground, helping their people amidst the face of death, we have realized we cannot stop fighting. The people on the outside, with the basic privileges of water, a home, and a cell phone, are just as crucial in this fight to make a difference. We are the ones who bring a voice to the unheard. Digital media allows us to shed light on information overlooked or misrepresented by Western media, offering a platform for more honest and people-centric journalism.
And it’s time once again to use this power in the right way.
With great excitement and hope, we are restarting our news outlet with a focus on a newsletter and social media. Although our resources are extremely limited, we can promise fact-checked journalism that focuses on people, not profit. We are unsure how much impact this newsletter will bring. We hope to do the same as we always have: focusing on stories and perspectives the mainstream media often leaves out. And “even if we cannot be as big as the sun that shines upon the earth, we hope to at least be a lamp and light your street.” (Vidhu Chopra, 12th Fail)
We encourage you to share this newsletter and continue to follow along on this difficult journey of becoming a grassroots news outlet about the people, run by the next generation.
With love,
Rahim Jessani, founder and editor-in-chief of TUT