All About Alternative Media

Media streams and news reports are always right in front of us, sometimes these media outlets are so loud that we don't even realize there are other sources of information. Alternative media is defined as: Newspapers, magazines, or online sites that are privately owned and circulate messages that are felt to be underrepresented by 'mainstream media'. AntiWar, Democracy Now, and The American Conservative are all examples of alternative media sites. 

So, what are the pros and cons that alternative media provides citizens? For starters, alternative media isn't owned by large corporations and therefore will provide readers with more diversity in political topics. Publishers within these private companies have more unfiltered information as they do not have a brand identity to keep. Lastly, alternative media can make readers feel more connected to their peers as certain topics that they feel passionately on may be brushed over by mainstream media and these smaller websites allow them to see that others feel the same way.

However, like most things, there are some cons to alternative media. For example, even though these smaller platforms are privately owned and therefore less controlled, the downside is the information posted may not be fully accurate and you want to make sure you are being critical of the accuracy of the material that you are reading. Alternative media sites also don't make as much money as the high profit media corporations and unfortunately, may not have enough funds to be on air for a long period of time. They also may miss out on research and reporting opportunities due to money. While smaller sites create a tighter knit community as you are all sharing opinions on topics, these communities can be highly biased and sometimes even ostracized to those on the opposing view.

Society as a whole can really benefit from alternative media as it gives citizens a space to receive political information on a broad range of topics. These articles also provide different levels of analysis as well as show different viewpoints from both extremes. As a Generation Z student, alternative media also allows me to research political topics that may not be highlighted in mainstream media. Having the ability to read about issues from both perspectives also helps me gain a better and more educated opinion on the world around me. 

Alternative Media doesn't just affect me or society as a whole, but it also affects the different groups within our society:

   Old vs Young: Older generations may prefer regular news stations as they can be accessed easier and they are more trusting of the government than younger generations. The younger people are more likely to use alternative media sites due to their lack of trust in larger corporations and interest in niche topics.

Majority vs Minority: Alternative media sites can be very helpful to minority readers as they may feel not fully represented in larger media programs and connect with the smaller sites more as they feel seen and heard. 

Overall, Alternative media is a helpful resource to those wanting to be more informed on topics not often talked about or even for a student wanting to make their own judgments on political issues around the globe.