“Living in Philly” interview series where realtor Cherise Wynne (“Agent Lady”) highlights interesting people & organizations in the civic, real estate, restaurant and lifestyle space that help first time home buyers navigate our great city of Philadelphia.
Meet Chris, Co-Founder and Editorial Director
Agent Lady: In regards to Technically Media, when people ask that famous question “what do you do”, how do you typically answer?
Chris: I’m the Editorial Director, which means I oversee our editorial direction and how it fits and supports our business as a whole. I’m also a cofounder, which means, even at our stage of a 25-person team, I have to be a scrappy problem solver to fill the cracks in between the team we are still growing.
Agent Lady: What does Technically Media do, what neighborhood(s) does it provide products/services in, and what do you find special about those Philly areas?
Chris: We’re a community news organization that wants to convene and challenge the kinds of people who are shaping the future of local economies. In Philadelphia, which is one of five cities we work in, that means we want to bridge the gaps between venture capitalists and activists. We want a more civic minded, impactful and generally successful business community.
Agent Lady: How do you believe Technically Media is making Philadelphia better?
Chris: From the beginning we’ve said to our community that any success this city has must be considered a chance to help as many residents as possible. I think we’ve brought a lot of people together and challenged them to think of Philadelphia differently, as a place that can thrive while also confronting some of our biggest challenges.
Agent Lady: If you had to choose between a Philly cheesesteak or a Philly pretzel, what would you choose?
Chris: The correct answer to this question is a cheesesteak. Lots of cities have stereotyped favorite foods that aren’t all that interesting. Cheesesteaks are actually deservingly iconic, and that’s impressive considering it is probably only the third or fourth best sandwich this city produces — hello, Dinic’s Roast pork and the corner store Italian hoagie.
Agent Lady: What’s the biggest misconception people have about your industry or type of organization?
Chris: News is a mirror. We tell you about your community and those around you. And lots of times we don’t like what we see in the mirror. People get mad at news (even local news like us) all the time for problems that aren’t ours. They’ll say we’re factually incorrect, when in truth they just don’t like the fact. They’ll say we’re biased, when in truth they don’t have as wide a view of their reality as our distance allows. Sometimes we get it wrong, lots of times I’ve found people just aren’t used to someone dispassionately telling them what they see. It can be chilling and it’s easier to blame the messenger.
Agent Lady: What is the nerdiest thing you do in your spare time?
Chris: I share a twice-monthly newsletter with links I read and things I’ve learned to more than 250 people I care about. You can see archives and join here. tinyletter.com/christopherwink I do lots and lots of nerdy things — recreational data set creation and podcast production — and all of that is shared in the newsletter.
Agent Lady: What is your favorite word?
Chris: Civility. Discourse is more challenging, fruitful and democratic when we allow for mistakes and discussion with a friendlier tone.
Agent Lady: If you had to pick another career what would it be?
Chris: Fiction writer.
Agent Lady: For anyone looking to buy their first home in Philly or move to the Philly area, what do you have to say to them?
Chris: I bought my first home in Fishtown in 2010. It was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Know the names of your neighbors. Sit on your stoop. Understand that you are joining a community that stretches back hundreds of years and you are just one little star in a constellation.
Agent Lady: If someone wanted to learn more about you or Technically Media, where could they go?
Chris: We have a fun look into our company culture on Instagram and Twitter @TechnicallyM, though our most active footprint is in our two daily news sites, at Technical.ly/Philly (for Philly people) and Generocity.org. Both sites have popular newsletters sending out our reporting.
Last Words
Lets give Chris a huge thanks for stopping by to share with us, and if you’re a fan of the news Technically Media (for me it’s Technically Philly) or Generocity provides, show them some love on their social profiles.
If you enjoyed this interview, please spread the word to all of the people in your network. If you’re looking to become a first time home buyer yourself, contact me here. Until next interview, stay awesome people!
About Agent Lady: Cherise Wynne is a leading real estate agent in Philadelphia, helping home buyers and sellers navigate the City of Brotherly Love, with a special focus on first time home buyers. To chat about getting started with your first time home buying experience, call 215-518-5193 or click here.
