Discerning readers worldwide are searching for media outlets that make honest, sincere efforts to capture the realities of our complex and fast-changing world. When they discover websites or journals that meet these standards of honesty and sincerity, they often follow them closely. However, an increasing number of these vital and credible sources soon face serious problems, often struggling just to survive.
One clear indication of this trend is the growing number of desperate appeals for economic support from these media organizations. Many explicitly state they may not be able to continue their highly relevant social role without immediate financial assistance.
It's not that these organizations are fiscally irresponsible. In fact, many offer inspiring examples of achieving remarkable results on surprisingly low budgets, demonstrating impressive financial discipline and austerity. Despite this, they find it increasingly difficult to survive, let alone expand—even though the expansion of their work is socially highly desirable.
Simultaneously, independent writers driven by a similar commitment to report and analyze our rapidly changing, often dangerous world are also struggling to survive, again despite operating on very low budgets. They are more likely to be published in the smaller independent media outlets mentioned above. As these outlets themselves face increasing survival challenges, they are often unable to adequately pay independent writers for their efforts, if at all. Consequently, appeals for support from independent writers are also becoming increasingly common.
The broader global economic trend sees most important sectors increasingly dominated by a few major players. This consolidation, which is also true for media and communications, leads to greater control over what information people receive, what is emphasized, and what is downplayed or distorted. Large media corporations can present their selected content in more attractive and entertaining ways at very low cost and high convenience to the public, backed by massive advertising revenue, subsidized infrastructure, and appealing working conditions. Those who succeed in big media can achieve both wealth and fame.
However, the space for those who want to report on realities not favored by dominant interests is simultaneously shrinking. While some create space through opportunistic alliances, this often comes at the expense of truth.
Overall, the task for those committed to truth and sincerity has become increasingly difficult. In these challenging conditions, those who persist in exploring or reporting inconvenient truths are often advised to avoid certain difficult but significant issues. Sometimes, they are even specifically targeted and harmed, further squeezing the space for independent efforts.
As a result, some of the most significant and relevant issues and views are pushed aside or altogether neglected. Another trend is to address such issues in distorted ways that serve dominant interests. Consequently, social discourse increasingly aligns with what dominant interests desire to perpetuate their control. The kind of discourse needed to bring about real change becomes a rare and elusive entity.
Ways to Support Independent Media
Given this situation, it is crucial that, until wider media reform can be achieved, ways are found to rescue and support smaller independent media efforts—particularly those that explore the world truthfully and sincerely, with an understanding of the most important issues.
We are living in deeply troubled times where the most essential concerns of equality, justice, democracy, and peace are increasingly violated globally, causing immense distress. Even more worrying are the serious environmental problems combined with highly destructive weapons that are pushing the world toward a survival crisis. In such times, big media continues to mislead the world on very important issues, leading to a denial of the real changes needed to save our planet and protect future generations.
Given this reality, it is a broader societal responsibility to support independent small media in ways that enable them to contribute to creating a safer and better world based on justice. Those who have created or significantly contribute to such important media efforts should be supported in ways that respect their dignity and self-respect. Those providing support should offer help with due respect. To ensure their help reaches the most credible efforts, an independent evaluation can determine who has been most consistent, creative, careful with facts and truth, and who has worked from a perspective of justice, equality, democracy, peace, harmony, and environmental protection.
Citizen groups and even individual citizens can also step in with encouraging words and economic support through subscriptions and small donations. This support can extend to small independent media organizations, including alternative websites, as well as independent writers, photographers, and artists who contribute to them.
Such support will also help ensure that committed and idealistic media professionals among the younger generation can find adequate space.
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Bharat Dogra is Honorary Convener, Campaign to Save Earth Now. His recent books include Saving Earth for Children, Planet in Peril, Earth Without Borders, A Day in 2071, and Man Over Machine—The Path to Peace
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