Newspaper for a New Era?

There’s a lot of talk about ’the media’ these days and its seeming inability or unwillingness to join up all the dots when it comes to things like peak oil and climate change. Theories abound as to why this should be so, ranging from ‘The media is controlled by corporate evil,’ to ‘They are only reporting what people want to hear,’ and everything in between. We can argue about the reasons for media indifference until the proverbial cows come home, but other than highlighting the problem this does little to solve anything.

That’s why I am excited to hear about a new newspaper being launched which aims to scoop up a lot of the stories that go ‘under the radar’ and act as a focal point for the Transition movement. It’ll be a paper and ink publication for residents of the UK, and available online for everywhere else. In it, as you can see from their pilot issue, there are many articles featuring people and initiatives that are out there making a difference. In that way it will act as a focal point and inspiring knowledge base for those of us who know we are already on the long descent.

But newspapers don’t write, print and distribute themselves – these things cost money. And because of that, the Transition Free Press needs our help. They have launched a crowd funding project with the aim of raising £15,000 and there is less than a month to go to meet that target. £15,000 ($24,000) will run the newspaper for a whole year and pay for all the distribution, printing, web hosting, writing, research and editing. Believe me, that is a pretty thin shoestring!

Anyway, if you feel you can, place a tip in their hat to ensure this project stays up and running. 

In their own words:

  

Happy new year everyone. The first ‘proper’ edition of the Transition Free Press is fast approaching publication and we need YOU to support us. That’s all those Transition Initiatives, related groups and individuals out there.

The editorial team, contributors, business and distribution departments have been working full-on over the past few months (did we just go through Solstice 2012 and Christmas?), commissioning, writing, collating, interviewing, proofing, editing, picture researching and making connections with the Transition network (small ‘n’) preparing this unique paper for its release on February 1st.

We have now almost covered the cost of printing and postage. But we’re still nowhere near being able to pay contributors and the core team producing the paper.

Why do we need another printed paper in the world? Because the issue you will hold in your hands and read from cover to cover on the train, the bus, the sofa or the toilet, contains reports and stories you just won’t find anywhere else in print media. Stories, from the dedicated transition groups and individuals working towards the energy-leaner future that  for some is already making its presence felt.

This is the paper where you see you’re not alone in making those vital steps towards a more collaborative, less destructive way of life. Read the latest on the gift economy, food and austerity, how communities are standing their ground against fracking and facing land rights issues. Discover what climate change scientists are really saying about carbon levels in the atmosphere and find out how to get local with food growing  and production. We’ll even be introducing an agony column for those times when we all feel lost in transition.

The Transition Free Press is written by transitioners from the UK to Japan to Europe and the Americas. It can be read by everyone everywhere. Because although we might live in different worlds, we share one planet. And that planet is changing, fast.

Mark Watson, TFP Distribution