Back quality independent media to save democracy

Two counter-powers normally keep democracy healthy: the legislative branch, which upholds the law and checks executive power, and the media, that expose wrongdoing.

Both are failing, hard and while we all suffer from it, it's mostly the most vulnerable among us who pay the highest price.

Without independent media holding power accountable, democracies become playgrounds for billionaires pushing their agendas through bought news outlets (like Fox News and the Washington Post in the US, and media under the Lagardère group in France).

Legislatures have been either gutted of resources or infiltrated by partisan operatives (just look at the U.S. Supreme Court, where Trump strategically installed loyalists). In Belgium and elsewhere, justice departments face chronic underfunding, and prisons are in a state of neglect. Supporting them isn't politically popular (why would an executive willingly strengthen a branch meant to hold it in check?).

Meanwhile, the media lost its business model to digital disruption, only to be snapped up by billionaires who now use them as propaganda tools to push their own agenda (usually towards infinite power for themselves). In France, the Lagardère media empire under Vincent Bolloré is pushing Rassemblement National's agenda. In the USA, many media outlets owned by ultra-wealthy conservatives promote regressive policies while blaming the poor for being "lazy".

So, what can we do?

I don't know for the legislative - it does feel out of our control. But for the media holdup, we need to rebuild journalism from the ground up: fact-checked, financed by its readers, and independent.

It's already happening. For instance in Belgium, where I live, Medor is an excellent independent publication making a real impact despite its modest size. In France, Arrêt sur Images and Mediapart both shining examples of principled journalism.

I'm sure there are new seeds of truth growing in your own media landscape if you look for them.

So if like me you don't want to watch democracy die without putting a (non violent) fight, then do something that matters: find independent sources that prioritise truth over clicks and support them with your hard-earned cash!

USA

404 Media

404 Media is an independent media company founded by technology journalists Jason Koebler, Emanuel Maiberg, Samantha Cole, and Joseph Cox.

Common Dreams

Common Dreams has been providing breaking news & views for the progressive community since 1997. We are independent, non-profit, advertising-free and 100% reader supported. Our Mission: To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good.

France

Mediapart - Actualité, enquêtes et dossiers d’investigation en toute indépendance !

Mediapart est un journal d’information numérique, participatif et indépendant, sans publicité ni subvention, et qui ne vit que du soutien de ses lecteurs et lectrices.

Bon Pote

Média indépendant sur l'environnement, 100% financé par ses lecteurs

Accueil | Arrêt sur images

La critique média en toute indépendance : enquêtes, analyses, chroniques et émissions.

Off Investigation - Les coulisses de la politique

Chez Off Investigation, nous initions documentaires et ouvrages d’enquête sur les coulisses de la politique, de l’économie, des médias et des « people »...

Belgium

Médor Web

Un habitant d’Assesse fait pression pour qu’une voirie publique qui traverse sa propriété ne soit plus empruntée. Le groupe « Lustin, chemins et sentiers » n’entend pas céder à ces intérêts privés.

Russia

Meduza in English — The Real Russia. Today.

The most important news and feature stories from trustworthy sources in and around Russia.