📡 Communication & Media
How we share information and tell our stories
The Problem
A few corporations control most of the world's information flow. Algorithms optimize for engagement, not truth. Local journalism is collapsing. Misinformation spreads faster than facts. Communities have lost the ability to tell their own stories.
The Alternative
Community Media
Locally owned newspapers, radio stations, podcasts, and newsletters. Journalism accountable to the community it serves, funded by readers, not advertisers.
Decentralized Platforms
Federated social networks, community-run forums, and open protocols that no single entity controls. Mastodon, Matrix, and the Fediverse as alternatives to corporate platforms.
Information Commons
Publicly funded research freely available. Community archives preserving local history. Open data portals for civic information. Knowledge as a shared resource.
Media Literacy for All
Critical thinking skills taught at every age. Understanding how algorithms work, how to verify information, and how to create media — not just consume it.
Start Here
- ✓Support local journalism — subscribe, donate, contribute
- ✓Move conversations to community-owned platforms
- ✓Teach media literacy skills in your community
- ✓Start a community newsletter or podcast
- ✓Share knowledge openly — blog, teach, document
Already Happening
The Bristol Cable
Bristol, United Kingdom · Est. 2014
A member-owned media cooperative with over 4,000 community shareholders providing independent investigative local journalism. Pioneered a democratic ownership model where readers fund and shape the newsroom.
elDiario.es
Madrid, Spain · Est. 2012
A major Spanish digital newspaper where over 70% of ownership belongs to newsroom staff. Sustains itself largely through reader memberships, covering 13 provinces as one of Spain's most influential independent outlets.
Outlier Media
Detroit, USA · Est. 2016
Uses SMS-based service journalism to deliver critical information on housing, utilities, and public services directly to residents who need it most. Demonstrates how journalism can function as a public utility.
News Literacy Project
Washington, D.C., USA · Est. 2008
Equips educators and the public with tools to identify credible information and spot misinformation. Its Checkology platform is used by teachers in all 50 US states for K-12 news literacy education.
AMARC
Montreal, Canada (global network) · Est. 1983
International network supporting community radio with ~4,000 members across 130 countries. Facilitates cooperation between stations serving as essential voices for local, indigenous, and marginalized communities.
Mastodon
Germany (global, decentralized) · Est. 2016
A free, open-source decentralized social network operating as a federation of independently managed servers via ActivityPub. No central authority, no algorithmic manipulation, no advertising.
Rappler
Manila, Philippines · Est. 2012
Founded by Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa, combining investigative journalism with technology and civic engagement. A leading independent voice in Southeast Asian journalism and global press freedom.
Agencia Publica
Sao Paulo, Brazil · Est. 2011
Brazil's largest nonprofit investigative newsroom, founded by women reporters. Investigations republished by 700+ outlets with 90+ journalism awards.
Mada Masr
Cairo, Egypt · Est. 2013
One of the few Egyptian outlets still openly reporting critically on the government. Publishes long-form features in Arabic and English covering politics, economy, culture, and society.
Malaysiakini
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia · Est. 1999
Malaysia's first independent online news portal providing an alternative voice in a government-linked media landscape. Transitioning to foundation ownership for long-term independence.
CORAPE
Quito, Ecuador · Est. 1990
A network of 100+ community radio stations across Ecuador with sub-networks for Amazonian communities, Kichwa-language broadcasting, migration, youth, and environment.
PeerTube
Lyon, France · Est. 2018
A free, open-source, decentralized video hosting platform by Framasoft. Uses ActivityPub federation and peer-to-peer streaming — any organization can run its own interconnected video instance.
404 Media
New York, USA · Est. 2023
A worker-owned technology journalism outlet founded by former Vice Motherboard reporters. Fully journalist-owned with equal equity, reached profitability within six months through subscriptions.
Ground News
Kitchener, Ontario, Canada · Est. 2018
Aggregates news from thousands of sources showing how stories are covered across the political spectrum. Visualizes bias, ownership, and factuality to help users identify blind spots.