American journalism has a noble history of independent publications that came and went with changing political, social, economic, and cultural conditions. They published writers such as Tom Paine, Mark Twain, John Reed, Will Rogers, H.L. Mencken, and Studs Terkel.
Alternative newsweeklies were born in the ferment of the l960s. Many have now moved away from their progressive and grassroots origins that produced "insurgent journalism" nationwide, thus diversifying and democratizing access to news and analysis. Today many function more like the dailies to which they were created to be alternatives. They tend to emphasize entertainment and lifestyle coverage, especially since Sept. 11, leaving less room for real news.
As one who has read alternative newsweeklies since they developed during the innovative l960s and has written for many of them for three decades, this evolving story concerns me. Hundreds of such grassroots publications used to exist in most large and mid-size American cities, often more than one per city, providing lively competition. Now the number of truly independent newsweeklies has dwindled.
Media watchdog Peter Phillips of Project Censored noted, "The chains are buying up weeklies and turning them into profit machines. Media can be very profitable. But the chain purchases lead to the diminishment of real news."
Alternative newsweeklies were born in the ferment of the l960s. Many have now moved away from their progressive and grassroots origins that produced "insurgent journalism" nationwide, thus diversifying and democratizing access to news and analysis. Today many function more like the dailies to which they were created to be alternatives. They tend to emphasize entertainment and lifestyle coverage, especially since Sept. 11, leaving less room for real news.
As one who has read alternative newsweeklies since they developed during the innovative l960s and has written for many of them for three decades, this evolving story concerns me. Hundreds of such grassroots publications used to exist in most large and mid-size American cities, often more than one per city, providing lively competition. Now the number of truly independent newsweeklies has dwindled.
Media watchdog Peter Phillips of Project Censored noted, "The chains are buying up weeklies and turning them into profit machines. Media can be very profitable. But the chain purchases lead to the diminishment of real news."