Keeping tabs on left/alternative news media

[Brainaddict]

Right, it's time we developed more urban opinions on the alternative media ecosystem that has developed in recent years:

Big hitters: Novara Media

Who are they?: PoliticsJOE

Trying their best: Double Down News

Most confused bunch: Byline Times

Is this just one guy?: Evolve Politics

Coolest mag: Huck

Quiet bat people: Bureau of investigative journalism



Already judged and found wanting by urban: The Canary, Swawkbox, The Greyzone


Any others we should know about? Any judgements you have made on any of the above?


Edit: I've just rudely edited the thread title to say it's about news media specifically, as I think all the niche anarcho or leninist media stuff is a bit different and not what I was getting at. I guess it's the stuff that's a different angle on current affairs that I'm interested in, particularly those who have actual reporters who go out to stuff.

 

[hitmouse]

Pretty decent for what it is: Tribune

Has some overlap with Urban: Freedom

Looks fairly OK if you want to read coverage of Welsh stuff, although I think they have almost the same name as an unrelated and madly dodgy project: voice.wales

Are they still going?: New Socialist

I think I've read one or two alright articles on Double Down News, but I can't get over the fact that they named themselves after the expression that's widely used for "when someone who's already in the wrong refuses to admit it".

Was just thinking today: there's not really much in the way of decent regular anarcho, or even like "socialism-from-below" or whatever, UK podcasts, are there? Like, I'd really appreciate a show that was focused on class struggle from the perspective of rank-and-file/grassroots organisers rather than professional commentariat types and also had loads of good jokes and was dead funny, which doesn't feel too much to ask, but unless I'm really missing something I don't think there's anything that comes close to fitting the bill?

 

[Ming]

Democracy Now. Mainly US focused. Quality journalism and some heavy hitting guests (Chomsky’s on regularly and Amy Goodman (one of the hosts) managed to piss off Bill Clinton.

A Different Bias. Up and coming comment Youtube channel. Well researched. UK based.

 

[hitmouse]

I'm probably not the target audience for this one: gal-dem

Fair play to them for still doing a print publication that people seem to actually buy: DOPE

 

[ska invita]

Weird that despite there being a new wave of feminism of late there isnt a focussed feminist publication of the spare rib variety out there

 

[Brainaddict]

btw after writing this the other day I actually looked up politicsJOE and realised it is a UK offshoot of an Irish website. Don't know if it's as leftie in Ireland.

 

[furluxor]

Any thoughts on the Popular Front podcast? I have just discovered it and it looks very promising.

 

[Brainaddict]

I've just rudely edited the thread title to say it's about news media specifically, as I think all the niche anarcho or leninist media stuff is a bit different and not what I was getting at. I guess it's the stuff that's a different angle on current affairs that I'm interested in, particularly those who have actual reporters who go out to stuff (like the politicsJOE report got blocked from the Conservative Party conference the other day)

 

[LDC]

Any thoughts on the Popular Front podcast? I have just discovered it and it looks very promising.

I really like it tbh, although not sure it's 'left' for what that's worth! Most of the ones mentioned I think are shit. Novara is sometimes bearable, but mostly just annoying and smug, Hate The Canary, fuck The Grayzone conspiracy weirdo pro-authoritarian cunts, DD news is some Corbyn clickbait wank fest.

 

[The39thStep]

Setenta e Quatro is a Portuguese independent left publication that generally translates well with Chrome as a browser. Some of the contributors are ex Left Bloc , paper covers a mixture of Portuguese and International issues , varies in quality but I find it an interesting read.

Homepage | Setenta e Quatro

setentaequatro.pt

 

[furluxor]

although not sure it's 'left' for what that's worth

You're right, it's not, I fit it under the 'alternative' heading I saw an interview with Jake Hanrahan and I think he said that they don't have any political leanings other than anti-authoritarianism.

 

[LDC]

You're right, it's not, I fit it under the 'alternative' heading I saw an interview with Jake Hanrahan and I think he said that they don't have any political leanings other than anti-authoritarianism.

He seems like quite a character tbh! Although fair play to him, he has gone for it and gets into all sorts of places and manages to interview and film some interesting people and groups. I always think of this when I see his name...

 

[hitmouse]

Any thoughts on the Popular Front podcast? I have just discovered it and it looks very promising.

It seems kind of decent from what I know of it, but the name Popular Front feels (uninentionally?) designed to wind up people with a specific knowledge of/set of opinions on 20th centure history?
eta: their podcast on Amazon seems like it might be worthwhile:

 

[Brainaddict]

Byline Times is still pushing Russian involvement in Brexit in a long, rambling piece which it's difficult to assess the meaning of: On the Frontline of Exposing the Truth About Russia and Brexit – Byline Times

It also unashamedly pushes some leftwing causes: The New Mass Movement Rallying Against the Failures of Westminster – Byline Times

 

[A380]

Wot, no Morning Star?

The only daily English language socialist newspaper in the world. They are a bit of a broad church these days.

Home

 

[ska invita]

I dont know what came over me but I sent a complaint to the BBC earlier in the year, based on the fact that the Morning Star (which I cant say I'm much of a supporter of) isnt shown in the daily papers round up. They clearly feel it should be as if you watch the paper review on BBC News the Morning Star masthead appears on the backdrop and they link to it from their Today's Front Pages section

The Papers - BBC News

A detailed round-up of the main stories covered in the UK’s national newspapers – including a look at the front pages and expert reviews on the BBC News Channel.

www.bbc.co.uk

Its been a few months, no answer yet, I am curious what their answer will be, though I expect they've got a good excuse prepared and I doubt I'm the first person to ask.

 

[A380]

I should declare an interest as my dad still writes regularly for the Morning Star. It's his main retirement gig...

 

[Brainaddict]

Wot, no Morning Star?

The only daily English language socialist newspaper in the world. They are a bit of a broad church these days.

Home

Good point, though I've never knowingly met anyone who reads the Star. What numbers does it sell?

 

[A380]

I dont know what came over me but I sent a complaint to the BBC earlier in the year, based on the fact that the Morning Star (which I cant say I'm much of a supporter of) isnt shown in the daily papers round up. They clearly feel it should be as if you watch the paper review on BBC News the Morning Star masthead appears on the backdrop and they link to it from their Today's Front Pages section

The Papers - BBC News

A detailed round-up of the main stories covered in the UK’s national newspapers – including a look at the front pages and expert reviews on the BBC News Channel.

www.bbc.co.uk

View attachment 340304

Its been a few months, no answer yet, I am curious what their answer will be, though I expect they've got a good excuse prepared and I doubt I'm the first person to ask.

This paper will not be televised

BBC savaged for ‘white, middle-class’ bias in Ofcom report as execs continue to resist featuring the Morning Star

morningstaronline.co.uk

 

[kebabking]

Good point, though I've never knowingly met anyone who reads the Star. What numbers does it sell?

500 to the Russian Embassy, 500 to Special Branch, 500 to MI5.

1 each to A380's Mum and Dad, and a bloke in Rotherham called Dave. He reads it to his Daschund, Marko. Marko is, obviously, an undercover policeman.

 

[A380]

500 to the Russian Embassy, 500 to Special Branch, 500 to MI5.

1 each to A380's Mum and Dad, and a bloke in Rotherham called Dave. He reads it to his Daschund, Marko. Marko is, obviously, an undercover policeman.

That was Soviet Weekly (run half the time by actual Russian journos and half the time by officers from the GRU on really really shallow covers. ironically most of the UK permanent staff were staunch Euro communists (and/or MI5...).

I think the Morning Star got money direct from Moscow in cash - a fact completely unrelated to many of the Old Stalinists who ran it back in the day still having lovely Detached Houses in Hampstead that they brought in the 70's on their common workers wages...

(Marko is now a Serco contractor drawing his police pension and earning a ridiculous day rate from the Home Office for doing the same job, as that was 'more efficient' than training a new dog...)

 

[Brainaddict]

Okay, the Canary gets one more chance now the bosses are gone. Canary workers uncover and address gross inequalities in our own workplace

Will an improvement in internal politics and the exit of the shyster directors lead to an improvement in the standard of journalism? Ony time will tell.

 

[Pickman's model]

Good point, though I've never knowingly met anyone who reads the Star. What numbers does it sell?

you need to broaden your circle of friends, i've known quite a few people who've read it and even bought it myself on the odd occasion - tho not for some years now

 

[Smokeandsteam]

Okay, the Canary gets one more chance now the bosses are gone. Canary workers uncover and address gross inequalities in our own workplace

Will an improvement in internal politics and the exit of the shyster directors lead to an improvement in the standard of journalism? Ony time will tell.

No.

 

[Brainaddict]

Think Bright Green is a newcomer, I like the look of their themes but nothing too exciting in the coverage so far Bright Green - Independent media for radical, democratic, green movements

 

[Brainaddict]

I'd forgotten Reel News, seen them around for a while but only 4k followers on youtube https://www.youtube.com/@ReelNews/videos

 

[Johnny Vodka]

I think I've read one or two alright articles on Double Down News, but I can't get over the fact that they named themselves after the expression that's widely used for "when someone who's already in the wrong refuses to admit it".

I like DDN a lot and find the content interesting, though it's more opinion/essay than actual news.

 

[Magnus McGinty]

500 to the Russian Embassy, 500 to Special Branch, 500 to MI5.

1 each to A380's Mum and Dad, and a bloke in Rotherham called Dave. He reads it to his Daschund, Marko. Marko is, obviously, an undercover policeman.

Thank fuck we have the Mail Glorifying your deeds, eh?

 

[Magnus McGinty]

I should declare an interest as my dad still writes regularly for the Morning Star. It's his main retirement gig...

It doesn't pay particularly well.

 

[A380]

It doesn't pay particularly well.

It don’t pay at all…