Seattle’s Drip Media Brings New Voices To Sports Coverage
Growing up in Yakima County, Drip Media Founders Mat Bermudez and Belinda Garcia watched from afar as Seattle sports teams like the Seahawks, Storm and Mariners captured the hearts of the region. Now, they’re in the stadiums covering those teams, getting up close and personal with the most impactful stories in Seattle and beyond. It’s been a long journey for Bermudez and Garcia, who have been working on their craft and inspiring those around them for years. Now, they’re launching a new venture called Drip Media, which aims to highlight the stories behind Seattle’s players and bring accessible and high quality coverage to both Seattle’s English and Spanish-speaking communities.
“The Spanish-speaking marketplace that's not very tapped into since Univision kind of eliminated themselves in the Seattle area,” Bermudez said. “I see a big void there needing to be filled and I believe that we can fill it and we can have accessibility to both Spanish speaking in English speaking communities as well.”
Co-founder Belinda Garcia says that for her, the company is an opportunity to take some deep dives into stories which interest her. As a bilingual reporter, she’s been growing her skills through covering various events with Circling Seattle Sports and Converge Media, and now looks to use those skills on an even more regular basis.
“There's Latin heritage athletes in every sport so I want to be able to open up discussions where they feel comfortable speaking in their native tongue,” Garcia said. “That's something that I completely want to unlock.”
She also says that a goal of Drip Media is to highlight sports like hockey which aren’t typically part of the Latin media lineup. Spreading awareness of teams like the Kraken and the joy she’s found at Climate Pledge Arena is a big inspiration in her journey, something she hopes will inspire those around her as well.
For Bermudez, inspiration is also part of the game. He says that growing up, he never could have imagined the opportunity he now has. For him, playing college basketball was a way to get his foot in the door, but now he wants to kick that door wide open for those who want to follow in his footsteps.
“My goal is to find the next Mat Bermudez. These young minds are gonna help me kind of catapult myself at the same time that I can spit game and kind of lend whatever I can to them and help them grow as well,” Bermudez said. “We’re working on building a community of creatives and offering resources because it was really hard to get the camera gear.”
He recalled a visit to Pike’s Place Market to sell tomatoes when he was young, a trip that validated his interst in the city and sports and pushed him forward to discover his journey.
“I love Sunnyside, but I knew there was more for me,” Bermudez said. “I want to show the kids there that it’s possible.”
He says that resources are the most valuable piece of the puzzle, and that offering whatever support he can is front and center to the mission of Drip Media. Garcia agrees, saying that she’s seen the work being put in by those chasing the same dreams as she is and she’s ready to help.
“I think sometimes we ignore the fact that some of these freelancers don't have the top tier equipment, but they're working hard,” Garcia said. “That's why bringing awareness to their hard work and to their creativity is so important. We’ve had amazing mentors who have opened the door for us, and we want to do the same thing.”
It’s clear that Drip Media will be a force in the Seattle media and creative scene for years to come, and will continue to provide resources and opportunity with Bermudez and Garcia at the helm. Make sure to follow along on Instagram at @dripmedia206 and visit their website.
