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"progressive online media outlets in the form of blogs, news sites and magazines are reaching and capturing larger audiences than ever before. This is great news for Canadian media organizations like rabble.ca, The Walrus, Adbusters and, of course, This Magazine. (It should be noted that even mid-size American media Clark and van Slyke talk about easily dwarf their Canadian cousins—200,000 subscribers in Canada would rank among the largest publications in the country—which we certainly are not.)
Yet, a larger audience isn’t the only advantage for progressive web-based media. Instead of relying on advertisers as a main source of funding during a time when budgets are tight, online independent media outlets also benefit from the support of government grants and reader donations. This, in turn, has allowed them to produce and remain consistent with the uncompromisingly lefty content that their readers crave."
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"Knowing how to use the media is essential for achieving social change. Ultimately, however, a tool is just a tool. From my perch, campaigns for justice always require capital, both human and green, to catch fire. And while broadsheets, blogs, vlogs and websites are essential components of such efforts, nothing can replace the human-tohuman connection of grassroots organizing to compel civic engagement. At the end of the day, technology can enhance, but not replace, on-the-ground outreach.
Clark and Van Slyke believe that networked media can reshape progressive politics. I hope they’re right."
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"Van Slyke and Clark…want to encourage a recent trend of loosely connected of progressive organizations and individuals that have pushed for change in a platform that lowers barriers for information distribution. The success of progressive websites and organizations in organizing for the 2006 and 2008 elections as has been undeniable."
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"Tracy is quintessentially “forward-thinking.” Her first, newly-released book Beyond the Echo Chamber: How a Networked Progressive Media Can Reshape American Politics is already making waves throughout the political community and beyond. Co-written with Jessica Clark, the book examines how a new breed of media has harnessed a participatory online environment to engage millions, influencing political campaigns, public debates, and policymaking. In the words of Laura Flanders, host of GRITtv and noted progressive author, “From ‘he-media’ to ‘we-media,’ Van Slyke and Clark document the shift from a media universe dominated by a few grim men to one in which progressive media can experiment, collaborate, report and have real impact.” Tracy’s work takes our vital national conversation about the future of all media to the next level by showing us the impact that progressive media has had, and the unique strategies it has employed."
