Chris Chester

Former @wamu885/@dcist. Murrow award-winning tweeter. Husband. Father. Reader. Gamer. Plant Grower.

[Chris Chester @ChrisBChester]

One trend I have noticed as someone newly on the journalism job market is descriptions that read like a well-intentioned yet unintelligible AI-generated word salad.

I'm afraid you can't just use terms like "audience engagement" without defining your terms.

[Chris Chester @ChrisBChester]

I can't stress enough how great it was working on a team with Abbey. I'd be looking at the editorial calendar and ask what IG thoughts she had about a story and invariably she had already spoken to the reporter and had a plan in place.

Hire Abbey! You will not regret it.

[WeMakeWAMU is a union @WeMakeWAMU]

.@AbbeyMonsour was our audience producer. How did our Instagram and newsletter balloon in recent times? Well in part thanks to her. She has a knack for knowing what resonates with our DCist/WAMU audiences and our journalism had a greater impact because of it.

[Chris Chester @ChrisBChester]

And one last thing, because I am a digital audience person at heart...

How AWFUL has Twitter gotten since I last posted here natively? Good lord. And yet, when I wanted to share news with my community, where did I go?

Things to think about.

[Chris Chester @ChrisBChester]

For those who asked how they can help, there is a collection going on for those impacted by the layoffs:
https://t.co/gS9kVvutdp

Again, I am grateful to be part of the union, because my severance was more generous than the pittance non-union folks got.

[Amanda Michelle Gomez @amanduhgomez]

Because some of you asked, you can donate funds to impacted @WeMakeWAMU @wamu885 @DCist staff.

Our major gifts officer is collecting donations on Venmo ✊🏾: @ Sarah-Cumbie

[Chris Chester @ChrisBChester]

To those offering resources for finding the next job, a special thank you! In truth, I have barely engaged with suggestions yet because I'm still processing the last couple of days.

I'm sure I'll be in future mode by Monday.

[Chris Chester @ChrisBChester]

Thank you to everyone who reached out yesterday. It was a sad day, but my heart is full after hearing from so many for whom WAMU and DCist played a role in their lives.

[Chris Chester @ChrisBChester]

I am forever grateful to have worked with so many whip-smart co-workers and friends over the years. People get into public media because they have a drive to contribute to their community and that tends to help select for really generous, gifted humans.

To all of you: THANK YOU.

[Chris Chester @ChrisBChester]

It's with a heavy heart that I have to share that my 13 years at WAMU and DCist as a web producer, audience editor and most recently growth editor came to an end today.

More than a dozen dedicated, talented colleagues were let go as well.

[WeMakeWAMU is a union @WeMakeWAMU]

This morning, @wamu885 management informed us they are laying off 15 vital people from our organization. These individuals are the lifeblood of our journalism. Our hearts are broken. We can’t believe we are losing our colleagues and friends.

[Chris Chester @ChrisBChester]

I wanted to communicate my gratitude at being part of the @wemakewamu union, without which the financial blow this news represents would have been all the more harsh. Not all who were laid off are so lucky.

Organize your workplace, folks! Solidarity forever.

[Chris Chester @ChrisBChester]

@maustermuhle The last collaboration they did was a big hit, so I assume those were all scalpers about to be disappointed by plastic Blancpains.

So more like the shoes than the bagels.

[Chris Chester @ChrisBChester]

@mlopreste @nat_sound_wamu @wamu885 Considering having some tortellini sent to the station the next time Natalie hosts ATC.

[Prof. Eliot Jacobson @EliotJacobson]

The 7 hottest days on Earth in the last 100,000+ years all happened in the last week:

July 6 ~ 17.23°C / 63.01°F
July 7 ~ 17.20°C / 62.96°F
July 4 ~ 17.18°C / 62.93°F
July 5 ~ 17.18°C / 62.92°F
July 8 ~ 17.17°C / 62.90°F
July 10 ~ 17.12°C / 62.81°F
July 9 ~ 17.11°C / 62.79°F

[Teresa Frontado @tfrontado]

So proud of the @wamu885 team 👏👏👏👏

[Chris Chester @ChrisBChester]

You become numb to the local arguments against bike lanes, but fighting sidewalks near elementary schools is uh... new. https://t.co/325L5K2dD8

[Chris Chester @ChrisBChester]

Checking back into Twitter after three months on parental leave. How are th...

[Chris Chester @ChrisBChester]

On the enshittification of the internet https://t.co/3Mi4MLFJuD

[Aja Drain @aja_drain]

Words can't describe how proud I am of this piece or how personal it was. But at the very least, I can say how grateful I am for such a stellar team @kaylahhewitt @deedwyerjonts, and Deanna Hackney.
https://t.co/8SynZamwI4