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But first, here’s what else people are talking about on Diem:
We are in a women’s media crisis. In the past decade, beloved publications like Rookie, The Hairpin, Bitch, The Frisky, XOJane, Lucky, Bust, and HelloGiggles have shuttered or all but disappeared. The outlets that remain are suffering along with the rest of media, which operates at the behest of big companies who shrink budgets and underserve their readers. But at Diem, we’ve long believed women should be the ones telling their own stories. It’s the foundation of our app, which sees over tens of thousands of conversations every month about everything from salary negotiations to sex advice to the pain of period shits. If there’s one thing we know, it’s that women contain multitudes, and deserve more options beyond the scraps left behind by majority-male execs. So we’re throwing our hat into the ring.
ICYMI, we built Diem, a social search engine for women. Our app launched publicly in May of 2023 and has grown into vibrant digital community. On Diem, we see what women care about. Our users come to us asking their most personal questions, spilling their darkest secrets, and connecting with each other for support. Or as one Diemer described it “the Diem app is like hanging out with friends while everyone is sharing a secret question out of their diary to discuss it together.” Now, we’re taking that spirit and expanding our platform, creating an editorial arm of Diem that’s powered by you, for you. Introducing: Hearsay, Diem’s new editorial hub.
What does this mean? Well, we have a lot of plans: a bigger newsletter, original app content, even a zine. But first, we need your help. We’re launching a paid version of The Things We Don’t Talk About.
For the past two years, The Things We Don’t Talk About and The Briefing newsletters have been entirely free to anyone who subscribes—and it’s going well! We have an over 50% open rate, engaged readers, and a stable roster of amazing writers who volunteer their talents at no charge. But we can do so much more, and that starts with proper funding. While The Briefing will always be free so you never miss out on the best of Diem, starting today we’ll be paywalling all but one issue a month of The Things We Don’t Talk About. By contributing just $5 a month—or $50 a year—that money goes directly to our editorial efforts, and earns you a voice at the ground floor of a brand new women’s media venture. If you’ve got more to spend, you can also becoming a Founding Member of Hearsay for $100 a year.
If we meet our goals, this year we plan to:
Hire an advice columnist. We love writing about everything from personal brands to quiet quitting, but sometimes Diemers have specific questions, and we’d love to hire a funny, smart, knowledgeable columnist who can give you specific answers. This monthly column will be exclusive to paid subscribers.
Start a podcast. If you listen in to any Diem team meeting, we’re always going off track, debating, and sometimes even pulling pranks. We sit at the command center of all the things women are talking about, and would love to turn our discussions into a podcast, featuring your calls and thoughts.
Build an editorial site within the app. There’s so much good advice on Diem that it can actually be hard to keep track. We want to build a section of the app dedicated to guides, crowdsourced answers, and common questions so you can get the support you need as easily as possible. This section will feature the best answers from Diemers, as well as original content like personal essays and expert interviews.
If you become a paid subscriber now, you will get access to the entirety of Things We Don’t Talk About, including new additions to the newsletter like links and recommendations, a badge on your Diem profile to show you’re a Hearsay supporter, and access to our IRL salon events.
We understand times are tough. If you don’t have the ability to support us right now, no need to change anything on your end—you won’t be charged, and you’ll still receive The Briefing and one issue of The Things We Don’t Talk About a month. Plus, you are always welcome in the app for free <3.
If you have any questions (or ideas for Hearsay!), feel free to reach out to kate@askdiem.com. We’re just happy you’re here, and can’t wait to have you with us for this next chapter.
ICYMI
Before you go…
🎓 ATTN COLLEGE STUDENTS 🎓 We're creating a Diem College Campus Ambassador Program (think: the sorority you've always wanted and never had). If you're a college student, we want your ideas to make our program as fun for you as possible! Head over here to fill out our feedback survey! If you’re an NYC based student, we’re also hiring a community intern to help bring this campus program to life! Apply here.