AlterNet

URL	www.alternet.org
Commercial?	No
Type of site	news, political analysis & commentary
Registration	Optional
Owner	Independent Media Institute
Created by	Independent Media Institute
Launched	1998
Current status	Active

AlterNet, a project of the non-profit Independent Media Institute, is a progressive/liberal^[1] activist news service. Launched in 1998, AlterNet now claims a readership of over 3 million visitors per month.^[2]

AlterNet publishes original content as well as journalism from a wide variety of other sources. AlterNet states that its mission is to "inspire citizen action and advocacy on the environment, human rights and civil liberties, social justice, media, and health care issues."^[2] AlterNet's tagline is "The Mix is the Message."

Contents 1 Overview 2 Columnists 3 Awards 4 Books 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Overview

Founded in 1998, AlterNet publishes a combination of policy critiques, investigative reports and analysis, grassroots success stories and personal narratives. Their coverage emphasizes the discovery of workable solutions to social problems, and their editorial philosophy is "to uphold a commitment to fairness, equality and global stewardship, while making connections across generational, ethnic and issue lines."^[2]

Coverage is sub-divided into several categories, including Drug Reporter, EnviroHealth, ForeignPolicy, MediaCulture, Movie Mix, Rights & Liberties, War on Iraq, WireTap & WorkPlace.

Alternet searches the alternative media for content, as well as accepting some freelance content. The selection is carried out by a staff headed by Executive Editor Don Hazen, a former publisher of Mother Jones.^[3]

Alternet is financed by the syndication of articles, through individual donations, and by grants from major donors.^[3] In 2001 - 2005, the top three financial backers of the Independent Media Institute were the Nathan Cummings Foundation, David and Lucile Packard Foundation, Ford Foundation.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Columnists

Susie Bright Will Durst Sean Gonsalves Amy Goodman Chris Hedges Jim Hightower Arianna Huffington

Earl Ofari Hutchinson Molly Ivins Mark Klempner Bill McKibben Annalee Newitz Rory O'Connor Robert Scheer Norman Solomon Matt Taibbi

[edit] Awards

• Webby Awards
  • Nominated: 2002, 2004
  • Winner: 2003, 2005
  • Official Honoree (Politics section), 2008^[4]
• Utne Independent Press Awards
  • Nominated: 2004, 2005
  • Winner: 2002, 2003 (Reader's Choice)
• One of NPR's five "best on the internet", 2001^[1]

[edit] Books

• We the Media. 1997. ISBN 978-1-56584-380-6
• After 9/11: Solutions for a Saner World. 2002. ISBN 0963368710
• The Five Biggest Lies Bush Told Us About Iraq. 2003. ISBN 1-58322-644-3
• Start Making Sense. 2005. ISBN 1-931498-84-9

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• AlterNet.org