Alternative Media

Extracted Attributes

• Formats

  Print, audio, film/video, online/digital, street art

• Examples

  Counter-culture zines (1960s), ethnic and indigenous media (e.g., First People's television network/Aboriginal Peoples Television Network in Canada), online open publishing journalism sites (e.g., Indymedia), progressive news programs (e.g., Democracy Now!), identity-based community projects (e.g., It Gets Better Project), Signs of the Times (sott.net).

• Definition

  Media sources that differ from established forms of media (mainstream or mass media) in terms of their content, production, or distribution.

• Target Groups

  The poor, political and ethnic minorities, labor groups, LGBTQ+ identities

• Key Characteristics

  Non-commercial projects, advocate for interests of those excluded from the mainstream, spread marginalized viewpoints, create identity-based communities, challenge dominant cultural beliefs and values, often 'counter-hegemonic'.

• Distinction from 'Independent Media'

  While sometimes used synonymously, 'independent media' can also specifically mean freedom from government control, whereas alternative media is primarily defined by its non-commercial nature and advocacy for non-mainstream viewpoints.

Timeline

• Counter-culture zines emerge as an early example of alternative media. (Source: Wikipedia)

  1960s

• Alternative media actively challenges flawed historical narratives promoted by mainstream outlets like Fox News. (Source: Related Documents)

  Present

Alternative media

Alternative media are media sources that differ from established forms of media, such as mainstream media or mass media, in terms of their content, production, or distribution. Alternative media includes many formats, including print, audio, film/video, online/digital and street art. Examples include the counter-culture zines of the 1960s, ethnic and indigenous media such as the First People's television network in Canada (later rebranded Aboriginal Peoples Television Network), and more recently online open publishing journalism sites such as Indymedia. Sometimes the term "independent media" is used as a synonym, indicating independence from large media corporations. However, "independent media" generally has a different meaning, indicating freedom of the press and independence from government control. In contrast to the mainstream media, alternative media tend to be "non-commercial projects that advocate the interests of those excluded from the mainstream", for example, the poor, political and ethnic minorities, labor groups, and LGBT identities. These media spread marginalized viewpoints, such as those heard in the progressive news program Democracy Now!. They also create identity-based communities, such as in the It Gets Better Project that was posted on YouTube in response to a rise in gay teen suicides at the time of its creation. Alternative media challenge the dominant beliefs and values of a culture. They have been described as "counter-hegemonic" by adherents of Antonio Gramsci's theory of cultural hegemony. However, since the definition of alternative media as merely counter to the mainstream is limiting, some approaches to the study of alternative media also address the question of how and where these media are created, as well as the dynamic relationship between the media and the participants that create and use them.

Web Search Results

• Alternative media - Wikipedia

  Alternative media are media sources that differ from established forms of media, such as mainstream media or mass media, in terms of their content, production, or distribution. Alternative media includes many formats, including print, audio, film/video, online/digital and street art. Examples include the counter-culture zines of the 1960s, ethnic and indigenous media such as the First People's television network in Canada (later rebranded Aboriginal Peoples Television Network), and more [...] In contrast to the mainstream media, alternative media tend to be "non-commercial projects that advocate the interests of those excluded from the mainstream", for example, the poor, political and ethnic minorities, labor groups, and LGBT identities. These media spread marginalized viewpoints, such as those heard in the progressive news program Democracy Now!. They also create identity-based communities, such as in the It Gets Better Project that was posted on YouTube in response to a rise in [...] ## Contents ## Definitions There are various definitions of "alternative media". John Downing, for example, defines "radical alternative media" as media "that express an alternative vision to hegemonic policies, priorities, and perspectives". In his assessment of a variety of definitions for the term, Chris Atton notes repeatedly the importance of alternative media production originating from small-scale, counter-hegemonic groups and individuals.

• Top 10 Alternative Media List - Medium

  Alternative media are forms of media that differ from the current established mainstream, whether it be by content, format, or distribution. Alternative media can be print, digital, audio, video, and so on. [...] With growing concern over Fake News, many are turning to alternative media. As an active member of the truth community, I live and breathe alternative media, and it takes more than good references to make my top 10 list, my criteria also require the alternative media creator to be a conscious person who’s primary motivation is bettering the world around them while bringing truth to the current population. What is alternative media? [...] Signs of the Times (or sott.net) is a unique player in the Alt Media space, where they utilize their global presence of editors to curate news articles from around the world and post them on the sott.net website. The articles they curate are formatted from various sources into a single, beautiful, readable format. Articles come with editor commentary within the article clearly differentiated with a blue background, as well as standard comments section at the bottom. The website is well

• Alternative Media Sources - Library Guides at John Carroll University

  Alternative media are media sources that differ from established or dominant types of media (such as mainstream media or mass media) in terms of their content, production, or distribution. Sometimes the term independent media is used as a synonym, indicating independence from large media corporations, but generally independent media is used to describe a different meaning around freedom of the press and independence from government control. Alternative media does not refer to a specific format [...] and may be inclusive of print, audio, film/video, online/digital and street art, among others. Some examples include the counter-culture zines of the 1960s, ethnic and indigenous media such as the First People's television network in Canada (later rebranded Aboriginal Peoples Television Network), and more recently online open publishing journalism sites such as Indymedia.

• Alternative media - Oxford Reference

  ###### Browse All ###### Browse All ### Recently viewed (0) ### Recently viewed (0) ## Share Link ### Related Content Overview # alternative media ## Quick Reference 1. (community, alternative, underground media, press) Non-mainstream media forms such as graffiti, street theatre, fanzines, pamphlets, and community newsletters—especially when used by minority groups for campaigning on particular issues. [...] 3. (alternative) A marketing category—particularly associated with cinema, music, and writing—that defines its product as being other than mainstream—either because its form is more challenging, or it expresses non-conformist values, or both. From: alternative media in A Dictionary of Media and Communication » Subjects: ## Related content in Oxford Reference ##### Reference entries ###### View all related items in Oxford Reference » [...] 2. (radical media, press) Newspapers, magazines, radio stations, or online media which are not corporately owned and which circulate political messages felt to be under-represented in ‘mainstream media’ (seen as geared towards maximizing profits and supporting a ‘free-trade’ agenda).

• What is the Alternative Media - Alternative Media Guide

  Or perhaps the alternative media (to paraphrase Amy and David Goodman describing Democracy Now!) represent and give voice to the mainstream who are ignored by the mainstream media. The excerpts below represent just a small sample of the various definitions and descriptions of the alternative press. Included as well are a couple of excerpts pertaining to the dissident and radical press which, depending on the definition used, may also be considered alternative. [...] No one term adequately describes all of the various types of publications and sources of information that fall outside of the mainstream: independent, dissident, radical, underground, subversive, non-corporate, progressive, grassroots, activist, anarchist, small, alternative... [...] Banner image for Mount Allison University Libraries and Archives # Alternative Media Guide: What is the Alternative Media ## Quick Links ## About this Guide This guide is designed to provide an introduction to alternative media sources. Related Guides: ## What is the Alternative Media? #### Please note: this guide was initially developed in the early 2000s with some sections updated up to 2013. It is not currently being updated.