Partnership between independent media outlets helps increase their presence

Independent media outlets have always had a goal of getting important stories and issues out into the public, specifically when these were not being published, or portrayed fairly, by the mainstream press.  After reading, Vincent Stehle’s article, “How a Misguided War Led to a Powerful Nonprofit Partnership,” I realized how the nonprofit press was strengthened by the war in Iraq.

Independent outlets noticed how many mainstream journalists were pushing the agenda of the Bush administration, focusing on why we should attack Iraq and interviewing those who supported the war. Also, they were not displaying much anti-war coverage. Independent media outlets wanted to end this incomplete coverage and offer insight to the American’s who were influenced by the mainstream press.

In 2005, over two-dozen leaders of the nonprofit press and developed a partnership called, the Media Consortium. The goal of the Media Consortium is to strengthen the voice of independent media outlets, for their current audience and also to increase their audience size.  Members of the partnership include, The Nation, Mother Jones, Democracy Now and the American Prospect.

Since its development independent media outlets have increased their impact on what is reported, and the media industry as a whole. As Stehle shows in his article, independent media led the coverage of the Occupy Wall Street movement. Their press coverage of the movement began right from the start and because of this they were able to full understand what the issues behind the movement.

There have been times when the mainstream press covers certain issues because of what the independent media outlets has published. The example given by Stehle is the article “My So-Called Ex-Gay Life,” in which the writer discusses his experience with ex-gay therapy. This article was able to spark not only coverage in mainstream outlets like the New York Times, but also influence legislation banning ex-gay therapy for minors in California.

   

Another example of an independent media outlet influencing the mainstream press is Brave New Films, another member of the Media Consortium, with their video “McCain’sMansions.” Brave New Films displayed McCain’s many homes and the expense that went along with them. This film then prompted other journalists to question McCain about his excessive amount of homes. In one interview he was asked how many homes he owned and he was unable to give a definitive answer, the media then went into frenzy about this. Clearly, this coverage impacted the outcome of the 2012 election, and without Brave New Films, attention probably wouldn’t have been brought to this subject.

There is no question that many independent media outlets are producing important stories and using great journalism to do so. However, the main problem I see is that most people do not give the same attention to these outlets as they do the mainstream, or they are not even aware of certain independent news outlet's existence. With the development of the Media Consortium, independent media outlets have recognized the importance of raising their voice and reaching as many people as possible.