Cheb.media: send a news tip

You saw a crash on the main avenue, water was cut off for the whole building, or you found a pothole that has already hurt more than one car. An editorial team wants that kind of tip, and you are the only person who was there. Cheb.media takes reader news through this bot. 📩

A direct line to the newsroom

The bot exists for contact with the Cheb.media editors. Cheb.media is a local outlet covering the city of Cheboksary and the Chuvash region, explaining the news in plain words. You write a message in the bot, and it reaches the people who decide what goes into the channel.

Submissions serve more than one channel. The bot also collects news for a related channel with auto news from Cheboksary.

How to send a tip

It is straightforward, and the scheme is the same as in most reader submission bots.

1. Start the bot with /start. If something freezes, send the same command again and the bot restarts.
2. Describe the event. What happened, where, and when. An address and a time matter more than feelings.
3. Attach a photo or video if you have one. Footage from the scene often decides if an editor picks up the topic.
4. Send it and wait. The editors decide what to publish and when, so a reply may take a while.

What editors value most

Facts that can be checked count the most. Be specific instead of writing something vague like "terrible things are happening here".

• Incidents. Crashes, fires, outages, closed roads: the fresher, the better. 🚨
• City problems. Uncleared snow, a broken traffic light, a pothole nobody has fixed for months.
• People's stories. Unusual acts of help, local initiatives, events in your district.
• Photo and video. Ideally original, shot by you, with a clear place and time.

What happens with your data

The bot has a /security_policy command that shows its privacy policy. Read it before sending, particularly if you plan to include your contacts or surname. 🔒

If you worry about being recognized, say so in the message and add if you want to stay anonymous. The editors decide how to handle it, and they may decline the material.

Good manners for a source

A newsroom is not obliged to publish everything it receives. A topic can carry legal limits, and facts need checking.

Do not send other people's personal data, private correspondence, or unverified accusations against named individuals. Material like that will not run, and it can have consequences for you personally. ⚖️

Advertising and commercial offers go through a different route, not through the news bot. This one is for events, not for promoting a business.

If you are a reader, not a source

To simply follow city news you do not need the bot: subscribing to the channel is enough. The bot is for people who want to report something.

A good habit: before sending, check whether the story has already been published. It saves time for you and for the editors. 👍