In Forde’s study (2011) on alternative and independent journalism, she mentions that the terms independent and alternative may be used interchangeably to deliver the same meaning (which several theorists and media researchers still haven’t agreed on a single term to describe it).
How does this type of media differ from “mainstream” or conventional media?
At its core, alternative or independent media stands for “any type of communications which is not made by a recognized major media ownership groups.” (Forde, 2011, pp. 19). Platforms for alternative media are most likely to be non-profit and tend to focus on the idea of “active community” (Fanon, 1994; Anderson, 2012; Forde, 2011). For example, alternative media gives importance to the voices that aren’t normally represented in the media; the alternative journalists themselves or those featured in their media content need not be professional journalism practitioners, for they could simply be amateurs.
Reference List
Forde, S. (2011). Challenging the News: The Journalism of Alternative and Community Media. Palgrave.
Fanon, F. (1994). A Dying Colonialism. Grove Press.
Anderson, H. (2012). Facilitating Active Citizenship: Participating in Prisoners’ Radio. Routledge.
Mira's Trail of Thoughts 