Independent Media vs. conventional news sites
Can independent news sites be a satisfactory alternative to conventional news sites?
A Comparison of AlterNet and the NYTimes.com
Yes, they can.
The vast expanses of the world wide web offer a great variety of different news sites. However the majority of these sites are funded by a few big profit organisations, which often have great influence on them. As a counterpart to these conventional news sites independent news sites have been established over the last few years. By having a non-profit organisational structure, they provide a different view on the daily newsworld. The following wiki entry will describe the key characteristics of AlterNet, its patterns and usage possibilities in comparison to the NYtimes.com. In the end we will discuss if independent also means objective. On the whole we would like to show that independent news sites can indeed be a satisfactory alternative.
I. A few thoughts about AlterNet
“We aim to inspire citizen action and advocacy on the environment, human rights and civil liberties, social justice, media, and health care issues.”
“We seek to inspire citizen action through hard-hitting journalism.”
"We are committed to strengthening and supporting independent and alternative journalism and to improving the public's access to independent information sources."
II. The company structure of AlterNet compared to the NYTimes.com
The NYTimes.com as part of the New York Times Company
To see the company structure tree click here
- Established in Jan. 19th, 1996
- Newspaper circulation daily: between 1.103.600 (weekdays) and 1.637.700 (sundays)
- Monthly visitors online: 42.000.000
- Most popular newspaper website (Article on The Biving Report in 2007)
- Slogan: "All the News That's Fit to Print" [1]
AlterNet as part of the Independent Media Institute
- One of the most trafficked political magazine sites (7.2 mio page views and 2.8 mio readers/month)
- Small number of employees (10 editors, a few columnists)
- Slogan: "The Mix is the Message"
- Funding: syndication income, foundation grants, private funding
III. Interactivity (types of communication) on AlterNet and the NYTimes.com
AlterNet
The primary type of communication is text an can be found in form of:
-> the most recent newsarticles are on the front page. Older articles can be found in the archive section on the front page
->AlterNet's blog (called PEEK) is also featured on the front page. Here the topic headings are represented. For the complete article you either click on the heading or go to the blog section.
-> the Discussion Forum features news articles and blog posts most commented on.
- Subscription to the AlterNet newsletter
-> get daily headlines and weekday PEEK blog newsletters in your mailbox. As always this service can also be found on the front page.
The secondary types of communication can be found in form of:
-> there is always the featured video on the front page. Archived videos can be found in the video section.
-> satirical images like this can be found throughout the page
NYTimes.com
-> The NYTimes.com website features almost every type of communication that AlterNet offers such as:
- Blogs
- reader discussions
- videos
- slide shows
- audios
- expert advice
- a learning network
- an online store [1]
IV. Why independent news sites like AlterNet can indeed be a satisfactory alternative to conventional news sites
Although AlterNet's company structure, as part of the Independent Media Institute, is way smaller than the NYTimes.com company structure, it receives a considerable amount of page views per month (7.2 million). 2.3 million readers per month and two Webby-awards are also numbers that can't be pure coincidence. But what exactly is it that makes AlterNet such a successful news site?
The following section shows the main differences between AlterNet and the NYTimes.com. By analysing and discussing these differences we will show that an independent news site like AlterNet can be a satisfactory alternative to conventional news sites.
AlterNet is very successful because of their...
Language and Writing Style
- Use of different writing styles, for example dialogue style:
For the full article click here
- politicians are refered to by their first names:
"There are Green ’08 candidates, and Then There are Some That Aren’t... At All"
conclusion:
language and writing style are somewhat informal compared to a conventional news site like the NYTimes.com. Through this a broader public is addressed not just "more educated" people, which goes along with AlterNet's aims mentioned in the beginning:
"We seek to inspire citizen action through hard-hitting journalism"
“We are committed to strengthening and supporting independent and alternative journalism and to improving the public's access to independent information sources."
"AlterNet's aim is to inspire citizen discussion, advocacy, and activism."
AlterNet is very successful because of their...
range of topics:
Why AlterNet chose "The Mix is the Message" as their slogan becomes evident when you look at the great variety of topics they address. This again makes AlterNet a worthwhile alternative to conventional news sites as it reaches a broader public and raises more interest.
As one of the few news sites AlterNet also deals with the climate change as an important topic:
AlterNet is very successful because...
It's not out to make money
Because AlterNet is a non-profit organisation it is able to maintain an unconventional and independent stance on different topics. There is no big corporation behind AlterNet to influence or even take impact on the public through censoring and spreading well directed information.
Don Hazen, AlterNet's executive editor says about this different perspective:
“The problem with mainstream media,including online media, is that they've become a sort of Distraction Machine. The media are less about censoring stories than they are about presenting gossip and trivia. We prefer to focus on issues and policy and how it affects real people's lives. We look for stories that will provide a different perspective or unorthodox opinion or a particular angle that's been overlooked by the mainstream media. We seldom break a story with our reporting. Our strong suit is in giving the analysis and alternative perspective."
furthermore he comments on the impact big, conventional media like the NYTimes can have on the public:
"I'm not from the knee-jerk paranoid school that believes big media is censoring everyone's thoughts. You can find some great journalism in the dailies. But I think how certain publications play particular stories can have a big impact. You might be able to find some of these stories in the media, but it doesn't enter the public dialogue if it amounts to two paragraphs on page 20 of the New York Times. It's how the story gets presented and advanced and echoed that gets it onto the TV talk shows and radio stations and into America's living rooms." [2]
AlterNet is very successful because of their...
Special use of the various types of communication
Various types of communication and their usage are very important to assess the quality of a website. As the best way to access information is to assimilate it with all available senses, AlterNet as well as the NYTimes.com try to include every type of communication. The main difference between the two news sites is the way the readers are addressed. While the NYTimes.com try to maintain a certain seriousness with their texts, pictures, videos etc. AlterNet intersperses here and there some funny or satirical elements. This again not only addresses a broader range of readers (assumably a younger audience), it also helps to make certain content, which is difficult to apprehend, more accessable and understandable to many people. Furthermore many readers are more willing to click on and read a newsarticle that was made in an unorthodox way. Here are some examples of how AlterNet puts this into effect:
click on the video to play it!
AlterNet makes use of carricatures…
and goofy pictures...
...not just on the side columns but also on the front page:
V. independent = objective?
One question that ultimately arises when dealing with Independent Media is the question wheter independent also means objective. This question can definitely answered with a clear and sound NO! The independent in Independent Media only relates to their status as non-profit organizations. During our research we have found several proof to underline this fact:
“Over the past two decades conservative media has had a huge impact, and the results are disconcerting. First, most conservative media uses an ideological propaganda model that results in a more ignorant audience. One recent study showed that 80% of Fox viewers got the facts all wrong about the war in Iraq.“
-> this statement clearly emphasizes AlterNet's status as a left-wing magazine trying to counterbalance right-wing media
- AlterNet making fun of right-wing politicians
This video is only one example out of many in which AlterNet is making fun of right-wing politicians, especially John McCain. Click here to see the video!
This picture is another example
- AlterNet officially supporting the Democratic Party
click the video to see how AlterNet is promoting the Democratic Party!
VI. Conclusion
On the whole we think we have proven that, taking AlterNet as an example, independent news sites can be a satisfactory alternative to conventional news sites like the NYTimes.com. As a conclusion we would like to list again the two most important aspects that make AlterNet such a successful and worthy news site:
- As an independent media source, AlterNet can pick an unconventional stance on topics
- Many of the features this medium has to offer are used to highlight is independence
Although many non-profit independent media sites have gone bankrupt over the last few years, AlterNet has prevailed. Its attractive and consistent Web design combined with its back-end functionality makes it more efficient to use than many other independent news sites. It is an exceptional tool for keeping up to date with the alternative side of a hot issue and the proof that even without big corporate conglomerates investing millions of dollars it is possible to provide excellent news coverage. [3]
Sources
[1] Anina, Anni, Conny, Kristin. Online Newspapers. “Major Newspapers Online”. LPS: New Media and the Presidential Race. WS 07/08 (special thanks)
[2] Lasica, J.D. “ The Wired Left Awakens.” Online Journalism Review. 30 March 2008 <http://www.ojr.org/ojr/ethics/1017782317.php>
[3] Lougen, Colleen. “AlterNet.” American Library Association. 30 March 2008 <http://www.bowdoin.edu/~samato/IRA/reviews/issues/oct01/alternet-rev.html>
http://www.alternet.org
http://www.nytimes.com
Martin Lister et al. "New Media: A Critical Introduction". Routledge, 2003
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