AlterNet, a project of the non-profit Independent Media Institute, is a progressive

Progressivism in the United States

Progressivism in the United States is a broadly based reform movement that reached its height early in the 20th century and is generally considered to be middle class and reformist in nature. It arose as a response to the vast changes brought by modernization, such as the growth of large...

/liberal  activist news service. Launched in 1998, AlterNet now claims a readership of over 3 million visitors per month (the web ratings service Quantcast estimates that it receives 1.3 million).

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

Environment (biophysical)

The biophysical environment is the combined modeling of the physical environment and the biological life forms within the environment, and includes all variables, parameters as well as conditions and modes inside the Earth's biosphere. The biophysical environment can be divided into two categories:...

, human rights and civil liberties

Civil liberties

Civil liberties are rights and freedoms that provide an individual specific rights such as the freedom from slavery and forced labour, freedom from torture and death, the right to liberty and security, right to a fair trial, the right to defend one's self, the right to own and bear arms, the right...

, social justice

Social justice

Social justice generally refers to the idea of creating a society or institution that is based on the principles of equality and solidarity, that understands and values human rights, and that recognizes the dignity of every human being. The term and modern concept of "social justice" was coined by...

, media, and health care issues." AlterNet's tagline is "The Mix is the Message."

Overview

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

Coverage is sub-divided into several special sections related to progressive news and culture, including News & Politics, World, Economy, Civil Liberties, Immigration, Reproductive Justice, Economy, Environment, Food, Water, Books, Media & Culture, Belief, Drugs, Personal Health, Sex & Relationships, Vision, and Investigations.

AlterNet publishes original content and also amplifies the best of the alternative media

Alternative media

Alternative media are media which provide alternative information to the mainstream media in a given context, whether the mainstream media are commercial, publicly supported, or government-owned...

. The editorial staff is headed by founder and executive editor Don Hazen, a former publisher of Mother Jones

Mother Jones (magazine)

Mother Jones is an American independent news organization, featuring investigative and breaking news reporting on politics, the environment, human rights, and culture. Mother Jones has been nominated for 23 National Magazine Awards and has won six times, including for General Excellence in 2001,...

.

AlterNet is financed through individual donations, by grants from major donors, and ad revenue. In 2001–2005, the top three financial backers of the Independent Media Institute were the Nathan Cummings Foundation

Nathan Cummings Foundation

The Nathan Cummings Foundation was endowed by Nathan Cummings , founder of Consolidated Foods, now called Sara Lee Corporation...

, David and Lucile Packard Foundation

David and Lucile Packard Foundation

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation is a private foundation that provides grants to not-for-profit organizations. It was created in 1964 by David Packard and his wife Lucile Salter Packard. Following David Packard's death in 1996, the Foundation became the beneficiary of part of his estate...

, Ford Foundation

Ford Foundation

The Ford Foundation is a private foundation incorporated in Michigan and based in New York City created to fund programs that were chartered in 1936 by Edsel Ford and Henry Ford....

.

Awards

• Webby Awards
  Webby Awards
  A Webby Award is an international award presented annually by The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences for excellence on the Internet with categories in websites, interactive advertising, online film and video, and mobile....
  
  
  • Nominated: 2002, 2004
  • Winner: 2003, 2005
  • Official Honoree (Politics section), 2008
• Utne Independent Press Awards
  • Nominated: 2004, 2005
  • Winner: 2002, 2003 (Reader's Choice)
• One of NPR's five "best on the internet", 2001

Books

• We the Media. 1997. ISBN 978-1-56584-380-6
• After 9/11: Solutions for a Saner World. 2002. ISBN 0-9633687-1-0
• The Five Biggest Lies Bush Told Us About Iraq. 2003. ISBN 1-58322-644-3
• Start Making Sense. 2005. ISBN 1-931498-84-9