Support Local Independent Media Like Atlanta's "285 South" by Sophia Qureshi

R to L: Robert Redford & Dustin Hoffman
 in "All the President's Men (1976)"

How many great movies portray journalists, editors and publishers as heroic bulwarks against the corruption of the powerful? Did your high school social studies teacher tell you that the news media were the Fourth Estate, nearly equal in power to each of the three branches of the United States government?

In all likelihood, it's only older people like me who remember these quaint notions. For many reasons, even when a city has a daily newspaper, coverage is likely to be slanted towards the perspectives of the powerful.

Take for example the Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC):

Ajc publisher Andrew Morse offers media services to the city - Further proof AJC is a propaganda shill for the mayor and cop city. Obtained via GORA #StopCopCity pic.twitter.com/cqA1qpRWD0

— GORA4ORRAU (@InoperableSink) January 8, 2024 

There are several good "media criticism" journals, podcasts and blogs, but start with Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting. 

How do we go beyond media criticism? Independent media may offer some relief. Of what are such media independent? In theory, corporate and government control. More precisely, they escape such control because they have other sources of revenue to fund operations: grants, advertising and subscriptions.

285 South, founded by Sophia Qureshi, is an independent news outlet focused on "telling the stories of the diverse communities that make up Metro Atlanta." She writes:

So many of our stories, the stories of the diverse immigrant and refugee communities in Metro Atlanta, are not captured by legacy media. We are in the American South, but our stories touch all corners of the world. These stories are essential to understanding who we are a region, and where we're headed.

As of now, no paywall prevents you from reading its articles. So read some, and then decide how much it is worth to have a talented professional like Sophia writing stories about communities like yours. If it's worth 80,000/yr, then shouldn't 800 people pony up 100 USD per year? But you realize there are expenses to doing this, right? Should we shoot for 1600 people paying 100 USD per year so that I-285 South has money for Open Record Requests, transportation expenses, transcription services, insurance, etc. If communities don't fund these professionals when they embark on these efforts, let's not complain when they close shop and work for Coca-Cola. There's no shortage of corporations looking to fill Public Relations positions.

Act now and pledge a subscription.