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Resources

Selected US Independent Media

Resources

This list illustrates the rich and varied landscape of the independent (non-corporate) media sector in the U.S. and does not purport to include all outlets as independent media continues to evolve and grow.

  • The American Conservative – opinion magazine cofounded by Patrick Buchanan
  • National Review – “America’s most widely read and influential magazine and web site for Republican/conservative news, commentary”
  • Black Agenda Report – “news, analylsis, and commentary from the Black left”
  • New America Media is “a nationwide association of over 3,000 ethnic media organizations,” mostly independent, including
  • Colorlines – “journalism in service to racial justice”
  • News Taco – “the Latino daily”
  • Voices of NY – “best of the community and ethnic media”
  • America Blog – “a blog about gay politics in the USA and the world”
  • Bitch magazine – feminist “commentary on our media-driven world”
  • Feminist Magazine – “news, views, politics, culture . . . with a feminist perspective”
  • Feministing.com – “young feminists blogging, organizing, kicking ass”
  • 51 Percent – public radio show on “women’s issues” and “topics that concern us all”
  • Ms. Magazine – “more than a magazine — a movement”
  • Women’s eNews – “nonprofit daily Internet-based news service”
  • Adbusters – “journal of the mental environment”
  • Dissent magazine – “quarterly magazine of politics and ideas”
  • Harper’s magazine – the nation’s “oldest general interest monthly” on politics, society, environment, culture
  • Hightower Lowdown – monthly populist newsletter from Texan Jim Hightower
  • The Indypendent – “a free paper for free people”
  • In These Times – “newsmagazine committed to political and economic democracy”
  • Ode magazine – “positive news about the people and ideas that are changing our world”
  • The Sun – “personal, political, provocative, ad-free” monthly with long interview, nonfiction, fiction, poetry, photographs
  • Washington Spectator – biweekly bulletin offering “behind the scenes insight”
  • Yes! magazine – “solution-oriented journalism covering peace, justice and sustainability”
  • allAfrica – Distributing from over 140 organizations, “the only independent, comprehensive pan-African news source”
  • Aljazeera – news organization that provides “a voice for the voiceless in some of the world’s most unreported places”
  • The Americas Blog – “seeks to present a more accurate perspective on economic and political developments in the Western Hemisphere than is often presented in the U.S”
  • The Globe & Mail – coverage on Canada’s “news, politics, business, investing and lifestyle topics”
  • Fair Observer – nonprofit outlet that “aims to inform and educate global citizens of today and tomorrow”
  • The Guardian – “Covering American and international news for an online, global audience”
  • The Independent – “stands independent of political party allegiance, and makes its own mind up on the issues of the day”
  • Le Monde diplomatique – specializes “in authoritative journalism, whether it’s a view on US policy statements or on the unfolding dramas in Iran, Palestine or Pakistan.”
  • Middle East Eye – independent digital news covering stories from the Middle East and North Africa, bringing “local viewpoints to the fore”
  • openDemocracy – independent international media platform that “inspires change and builds leadership” among underrepresented groups
  • Columbia Journalism Review – “encourages and stimulates excellence in journalism in the service of a free society”
  • FAIR – “offering well-documented criticism of media bias and censorship” (full disclosure: founded by PCIM’s founding director Jeff Cohen)
  • International Consortium of Investigative Journalists – directs collaborations among international reporters to “uncover corruption, abuses of power and grave harms inflicted on the world’s most vulnerable people.”
  • Media Matters for America – “progressive research and information center dedicated to comprehensively monitoring, analyzing, and correcting conservative misinformation in the U.S. media”
  • Project Censored – “educates students and the public about the importance of a truly free press for democratic self-government”
  • Florida Phoenix –  free, nonprofit news site to “lift up emerging innovative ideas”
  • Credder – “Like ‘Rotten Tomatoes for news,’ Credder aggregates article reviews into overall credibility scores for each article, author, and outlet”
  • Critical Media Project (CMP) – “a free media literacy web resource for educators and students”
  • Improve the News – “A non-profit news aggregator helping you break out of your filter bubble”
  • Propwatch – “the world’s first visual database of propaganda techniques,” PropWatch is a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to raising public awareness of propaganda and disinformation
  • Alternet – “online community with original journalism” plus “the best of hundreds of other independent media sources”
  • The American Prospect– print/online magazine offering “liberal intelligence”
  • The American Independent News Network –  “impact journalism that not only covers the news but shapes it”
  • CommonDreams – “breaking news and views for the progressive community”
  • CounterPunch – “radical muckracking” web and print newsletter
  • Dissident Voice – “in the struggle for peace and social justice”
  • Injustice Watch – Chicago-based nonprofit journalism examining equity and justice in the court system.
  • Jacobin – “a leading voice of the American left, offering socialist perspectives on politics, economics, and culture.”
  • Payday Report – “small crowdfunded labor publication based in Pittsburgh, PA”
  • The Marshall Project – Nonprofit journalism about criminal justice
  • Mother Jones – “investigative, political, and social justice reporting”
  • The Nation – “a really critical spirit” since 1865
  • The Progressive – “peace and social justice since 1909”
  • ShadowProof – journalism, analysis and commentary focused on injustices and inappropriate control exerted by institutions of power
  • Talking Points Memo – “original reporting on government and politics”
  • Toward Freedom – online magazine that “advances movements for human rights, peace, justice and enlightenment”
  • Truthdig – “drilling beneath the headlines”
  • Truthout – “independent voices, under-covered issues”
  • The Uptake – “Will journalism be done by you or to you?”
  • Washington Monthly – “what really matters in Washington”
  • Z Magazine / ZNet –  “dedicated to resisting injustice”
  • Alternative Radio – weekly one-hour progressive show featuring speeches and in-depth interviews
  • CounterSpin – weekly half-hour media-watch program from FAIR (Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting; full disclosure: FAIR was founded by PCIM director Jeff Cohen)
  • Free Speech Radio News – “daily half-hour progressive newscast owned and managed by news reporters”
  • Hightower Commentary – populist Jim Hightower’s daily two-minute commentaries
  • Inquiring Minds – free podcast offering weekly “in-depth exploration of the place where science, politics, and society collide”
  • Making Contact – weekly half-hour documentary-style public affairs program
  • Pacifica – “listener-supported community radio network” owning 5 stations
  • Thom Hartmann Program – daily “news, opinion, debate”
  • Audubon magazine – “where nature enthusiasts, outdoor adventurers and socially conscious consumers can discover, connect with and be inspired by the natural world”
  • Circle of Blue WaterNews – “reporting the global water crisis”
  • Covering Climate Now –  helping news media “cover the defining story of our time with the rigor and urgency it deserves.
  • DeSmogBlog – “clearing the PR pollution that clouds climate science”
  • E, the Environmental Magazine  – bimonthly with news and resources for people concerned about the environment
  • Earth Island Journal  –  “hard-hitting exposés and inspiring stories of grassroots movements”
  • EcoWatch  – “uniting all shades of green” to “drive fundamental change”
  • Grist – “a beacon in the smog; environmental news and commentary with a wry twist”
  • Heated – “A newsletter for people who are pissed off about the climate crisis”
  • Indigenous Environmental Network – “an alliance of Indigenous peoples whose mission it is to protect the sacredness of Earth Mother…”
  • High Country News – “informs and inspires people, through in-depth journalism, to act on behalf of the West’s diverse natural and human communities”
  • Inside Climate News – “covers clean energy, carbon energy, nuclear energy and environmental science—plus the territory in between where law, policy and public opinion are shaped”
  • Kaiser Health News – “in-depth coverage of health care policy and politics,” largely funded by the Kaiser Family Foundation
  • Living on Earth – weekly environmental news radio program
  • Orion magazine – inspiring “a cultural force for healing nature and community”
  • Radio Ecoshock – show/audiocast hosted by Alex Smith covering “science and issues of climate change, oceans, forests, pollution, Peak Oil, the economy, and peace.”
  • Sea Change Radio – “weekly show covering the shifts to social, environmental and economic sustainability”; syndicated and podcast
  • SkyTruth – providing “remote sensing (satellite images) and mapping for environmental conservation: If you can see it, you can change it”
  • Brave New Films – “championing social justice issues; moving images to . . . empower viewers to take action”
  • Democracy Now! – daily TV/radio news program hosted by Amy Goodman/Juan Gonzalez on 850+ stations, “largest public media collaboration in US”
  • Free Speech TV – “progressive and independent TV/multimedia network”
  • The Laura Flanders Show – “in-depth interviews, field reports, and commentary distributed weekly” (syndicated)
  • Link TV – “television without borders” TV channel
  • Real News Network – viewer-sponsored reporting on national/global issues
  • The Young Turks (TYT Network) – online news show covering politics, economics, pop culture, social trends and lifestyle