The battle for independent media is now

 

It’s time to kick up a fuss. Last month, a coalition of small to midsize media outlets in Australia took the bold step of holding a publishing strike to protest the assault on journalism—independent publishers in particular—by Facebook and Google. As one editor of an independent outlet put it, "The tech giants are betting no one will care enough about the little guys to kick up a fuss." But this is not a fight localized in Australia—and so kick up a fuss we must. And though the particulars there are important, what’s more important for those who cherish independent media is that in the end, this is a global fight. To be clear: the odds are stacked against the "little guys" who don’t play by the corporate-friendly rules, but we have a secret weapon: our dedicated readers who recognize what’s at stake if outlets like ours are snuffed out. Our reporting at Common Dreams has never been more vital, but we’ve been hurt badly by the algorithm shifts of these tech giants, which have shown that their allegiance is to stockholders and ever-increasing profits—not the promise of a democratic internet or a commitment to the common good of the people and the planet. In the end, our fate is in the hands of those who value independent journalism—because your support has always been the foundation of our funding model. Without you, we won’t exist, so please join us now to fight back and make sure our work and mission survive this existential threat. Our Spring Campaign starts today and we need everyone on board to make sure we have the funds needed to wage the fight of our lives. DONATE With grit and gratitude, Aaron Kaufman Director of Development for the whole Common Dreams news team PS: Common Dreams relies on its sustaining donors to keep us going full steam ahead. Will you become a monthly donor today? Common Dreams is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. EIN: 20-3368194 Call 207.775.0488 to donate by phone or mail a check to: Common Dreams, PO Box 443, Portland, ME 04112, United States