For more than a decade, our competitor Seattle Met has been a meaningful and vibrant voice in our city’s media landscape. Its journalists, editors, and contributors have told important stories, celebrated our culture here, and helped define what it means to live in Seattle during a period of extraordinary growth and change. News that folks have been laid off and the publication’s assets acquired by an out-of-town media company is, for many of us, deeply felt. Behind every publication are talented people who care deeply about their work and their community—and today, they deserve our recognition and respect. They certainly have mine.

Moments like this invite reflection, not just on what we’ve lost, but on what matters most moving forward. Local media is not simply about content; it’s about connection. It’s about understanding the nuance of neighborhoods, the individuals behind our business and arts communities, and the shared sense of this place that makes Seattle, well, Seattle. That kind of storytelling cannot be outsourced. It must be lived.

At Seattle, we feel that responsibility very acutely. As a locally owned, locally operated publication, our commitment has always been to serve this city with authenticity, curiosity, and a lot of pride. Our writers live here. Our team is part of the fabric of this community. We sit in the same coffee shops, attend the same events, are parents at the same schools, and care about the same issues as YOU, our readers. That kind of proximity of course shapes not only what we cover, but even how deeply we cover it.

This moment also presents an opportunity, one that we approach with humility and determination. As the media landscape shifts, Seattle magazine is uniquely positioned to be a leading voice for our city: independent, deeply connected, and focused on elevating the people, businesses, and ideas that make Seattle exceptional. As we always say, what happens in Seattle matters to the rest of the world.

We do not take this role for granted. If anything, we feel a renewed sense of purpose. We will continue to invest in thoughtful local journalism, celebrate our region’s creativity and innovation, provide a platform for the diverse voices that define our community, while making it all. Look. Gorgeous. 

To the team behind Seattle Met: thank you. Your work has mattered.

And to our readers and partners: we are here, we are local, and we are more committed than ever to telling Seattle’s story—together.

Jonathan Sposato

Owner & publisher, Seattle magazine.