Hello, This is Michael Albert sending you a special Update mailing.
For about a year The NewStandard, TNS, (http://newstandardnews.net/) has been publishing online. TNS is a hard news web publication founded on participatory economics (parecon) principles by ZNet commentator Jessica Azulay and long-time ZNet contributor and programmer Brian Dominick. After working at a grueling schedule based on limited initial funding, to continue TNS needs to hire more staff and expand their areas of coverage. They have struggled as far as humanly possible with less than miniscule resources. TNS now has to achieve sustainability and to do that TNS is turning to a sustainer format of their own. TNS needs you to sign up to help it succeed. And I am writing to say I very much hope that you will do just that. Here is what Noam Chomsky had to say about TNS (http://newstandardnews.net/): "The NewStandard is an exciting initiative by people with great experience and impressive achievements. It offers real promise of meeting needs that are widely and rightly felt: for regular news about important issues, truly independent, not constrained by concentrated power." And here is what Robert Jensen wrote about TNS (http://newstandardnews.net/): "Aggressive new ventures such as The NewStandard are of vital importance. The journalists reporting and editing the news at TNS -- operating with a fraction of the resources -- put their so-called elite journalistic competitors to shame. It's vital that we support this effort so that they can continue -- and expand -- their crucial work. A contribution to The NewStandard is an investment not only in their project but in the health of our democracy." And here is what I have to say about TNS (http://newstandardnews.net/): "The left needs news, needs new exemplary media projects, and therefore needs The NewStandard. The only way an effort with the integrity and substance TNS has can survive is via user support. Those are the facts. Please use TNS. Please support it!" TNS does direct, public interest journalism. TNS reporters gather news of events and issues from perspectives that are ignored in the mainstream. TNS has in its first year produced well over 1,200 original articles. TNS reporting has been reprinted on over a thousand websites across the political spectrum. Even if hard news is not your preference, supporting The NewStandard is worthwhile because TNS has the potential to appeal to people not already identified with progressive causes. We donate to progressive projects, after all, to enable them to do work extending well beyond the benefit we ourselves directly derive. Given TNS's potential, we should all hate even the idea that they might fail, and we should all love to see them expand. But when we would hate for something to fail, and we would love for it to succeed, isn't it encumbant on us to do our part -- which means becoming regular users and supporters? If you are already familiar with TNS's invaluable work, please donate as you are able each month to their efforts. To donate please use this link: https://secure.peoplesnetworks.net/members/?ref=u529 <http://peoplesnetworks.net/members/?ref=u529> To review The NewStandard for yourself check out... http://newstandardnews.net/?refid=u529 By the way, PeoplesNetWorks is offering gifts like books, magazine subscriptions -- including Z -- a calendar or an alternative media t-shirt to new members who pledge to make regular contributions for a full year. Their premium program, which has come about as a result of solidarity efforts involving several alternative media organizations, also lets you earn more gifts by referring friends and others who in turn donate to The NewStandard.) Thanks for listening, and please, do consider helping TNS, Michael Albert ===================================This message has been brought to you by ZNet (http://www.zmag.org). Visit our site for subscription options.
