I’ve run !independent_news@lemmy.today for a few months now, along with newly associated !indy_news_canada@sh.itjust.works — because I’m Canadian.

Now, I’d like to gage interest in an idea. It would be neat if every country had their own independent journalism community, aggregated by and partnered with Independent News where everything will be cross-posted. I’m currently doing this with Indy News Canada.

My goal is to expose the fediverse to more diverse, trustworthy journalism which isn’t beholden to major corporate interests.

I’m an English/French(ish) speaker in North America, which limits my media diet, so I would love to see more dedicated indy journalism hubs for other countries and regions. I just can’t run them, and shouldn’t, since I’m not local to those regions and can’t match experience to their issues.

If you agree and would like to start a community for independent news in your country or region, let’s talk!

P.S. My communities are english and english/french only, I can’t moderate posts in a language I don’t understand. But! I’ll open up Independent News to cross-posting if non-english/french posts are being reviewed by someone who speaks the language.

  • sga@piefed.socialEnglish
    2·
    3 days ago

    I would be interested to do india related stuff. I sparingly post to /c/india (piefed.social) community, but largely just read passively.

    • Wren@lemmy.todayOPEnglish
      1·
      3 days ago

      Awesome. There’s some good, independent journalism coming from India, too.

      Would you want to post in English as well as Indian languages? If so, which ones?

      Occasionally I add explanations for words/terms North Americans may not understand, but that’s not necessary.

      • sga@piefed.socialEnglish
        2·
        3 days ago

        i personally only majorly read english only, so would do that. my main source would be folks like scroll.in or bbc india, or reporters collective. if you want to check their work, to see if they fit, you definitely should. Also there are many youtube channels who do ground reporting independent of big media houses (news pinch comes to mind, but many more), so may also share that.

        Occasionally I add explanations for words/terms North Americans may not understand, but that’s not necessary.

        would do that, but i may not know exactly what terms should i add, so may wait for some comments to point out some specific words, otherwise, i can also do a brief post explaining what happens in india and some themes to know, but that would involve a lot work, so i would leave that to a future me (future me hates present me)

        • Wren@lemmy.todayOPEnglish
          2·
          2 days ago

          It’s fair to wait to see what people understand. I guess I have a better vantage point for that.

          Scroll.in looks good. I’d personally call it borderline because they don’t have an about page and there isn’t much transparency, but I understand that the nature of journalism is affected by cultures and policies of the region. BBC is editorially independent enough they fit, but I’d love to see those independently published journalists too. My community is fine with blogs and unincorporated solo projects as long as they’re reliable.

          My standards shouldn’t be everyone’s standards, so I trust you to know what counts as independent, reliable and relevant for your country.

          For larger orgs I like factordaily.com - though they rarely publish, and https://www.factchecker.in/ and https://countercurrents.org/ - though that last one is heavily biased.

          • sga@piefed.socialEnglish
            2·
            2 days ago

            over here, basically all media houses (those who do tv) are basically paid indirectly by ruling party (we basically have a olligarcy mixed with populist fascism) so anyone raising questions against ruling party immediately is seen as better. If they are unaffiliated with opposition parties, then that is independent enough for me - basically do not take funding from parties or huge corporations, small corporates or businesses are fine as long as there is no major influence on content (they should not have editorial say on anything basically).

            we do not have lobbying as a thing, and any politician taking money from any individual for any reason could be classifieed as wrong doing (that certainly does not stop quid pro quo, they just have to be creative in giving money)

            • Wren@lemmy.todayOPEnglish
              1·
              2 days ago

              Gotcha, so you’re looking for editorial independence? That’s good enough for me, and the main thing to focus on. You never know what kind of back room deals happen at “independent” publications anyway.

              If you want to start a community for that, I’m all for partnering up.

              • sga@piefed.socialEnglish
                1·
                2 days ago

                the thing is that i am currently working and get not much free time, and maintaining and filling comms is hard. will wait for some time unti i am unemployed again

                • Wren@lemmy.todayOPEnglish
                  2·
                  2 days ago

                  Fair enough, and that’s grim. I would of course help post/crosspost/mod(if you want) when it’s set up. Good luck out there in the meantime!