From Newspapers on Street Corners to Media Websites

Once upon a time there was a plethora of left-wing newspapers but most have either disappeared or shrunk to such low levels of print circulation that they are mainly read on-line. Of course their formats and publishers (usually small Trotskyist political outfits) still treat them as newspapers and do not allow for comment.

The Weekly Worker is a prime example of this trend. Published by the Communist Party of Great Britain it's print run is believed to be only 500 copies, yet it's readership on line far exceeds that. At one time they claimed over 10,000 readers but this has shrunk considerably as the group became sidelined and disliked at every corner.

The Weekly Worker at least has letters pages that engage in actual debate. Socialist Worker and it's rival The Socialist papers of the SWP and Socialist Party respectively only publish letters that support their purposes.

But times are changing as the developments of alternative media outlets are now showing.

Watching the debate on the future (or not) of the Simpsons character Apu on Sky News this morning I noticed one of those being interviewed was Ash Sakar of Novara Media one of these "alternative" media organisations that have sprung up in parallel with the rise of Corbynism.  Sakar of course became infamous for declaring she was a "bloody communist" to Piers Morgan on Breakfast TV.

There are a couple of other websites associated with this phenomenon which are probably better known. The first is The Canary edited by Kerry-Anne Mendoza who has appeared on Question Time.  The other is the oddly named The Skwawkbox. Both support the "Corbyn project"

These sites are just as biased as the traditional left-wing newspapers and are just as unpleasant (and unreliable) as their print rivals. However this trend is growing.

The small but but influential Counterfire group are currently developing their own new media outlet and proclaim that:

The media backs the establishment more and more brazenly. Alternatives are desperately needed. Counterfire has been key to defending Corbyn and putting the case for socialism.

Now it's time to launch Counterfire Media, with podcasts, live interviews and video reports from the frontline. There will be more columns, theoretical analysis and reviews, and more books.

Of course they need money to do this, but investors need to be weary this group couldn't run a cafe. Literally. Anyone remember Firebox? 

This will surely not be the last as the other left groups finally twig that the days of standing on windy street corners shouting "get yer paper here" are long over.

Pity really but time they are a changing!