Beyond Mainstream Media: Alternative Media and the Future of Journalism

(Communication and Society)

by Stephen Cushion

Offering one of the most comprehensive assessments of alternative media to date, Beyond Mainstream Media examines the rise of alternative media over the last decade, analysing  their changing content and editorial strategies, and exploring why many  people go beyond the mainstream media for news and information. 

Considering  the differences in agenda between alternative and mainstream media  coverage, Cushion sheds light on why right-wing alternative media have  become a more prominent part of national media systems than left-wing  sites in the Western World. In doing so, he argues that alternative  left-wing media should place less emphasis on attacking professional  journalism and focus more on converging into the world of mainstream  news to promote their politics. This book draws on over 3,500 articles  and 17,000 social media posts produced by alternative media, extensive  interviews with editors and contributors, and a survey of over 2,700  media users. It develops a comparative international perspective by  explaining how findings and concepts can be applied to understanding  much broader issues, such as public distrust in the mainstream media or  the influence different media and political systems have on the  production of alternative media. 

Providing both an  introduction to and a critical analysis of the state of alternative  media today, this book is written in clear, jargon-free language and is  recommended reading for advanced students undertaking courses in  Alternative Media and Political Journalism.