MISSION STATEMENT
In These Times, an independent, nonprofit magazine, is dedicated to advancing democracy and economic justice, informing movements for a more humane world, and providing an accessible forum for debate about the policies that shape our future.
HISTORY
James Weinstein
In 1976, author and historian James Weinstein founded In These Times with the mission to "identify and clarify the struggles against corporate power now multiplying in American society."
Weinstein (1926-2005) was joined in establishing this independent magazine of news, culture and opinion by noted intellectuals Daniel Ellsberg, E.P. Thompson, Noam Chomsky, Barbara Ehrenreich, Julian Bond and Herbert Marcuse, all of whom were among the original sponsors of the magazine (see full list of founding sponsors below). Thirty-four years later, those sponsors now number in the thousands--as a not-for-profit publication, In These Times, like all political magazines on both the left and the right, has survived with the help of readers who make donations above and beyond the cost of their subscriptions.
Volume 1, Issue 1
Three decades after its founding, In These Times remains committed to covering the controversial issues of our time. Through five presidential administrations, In These Times has adhered to the belief that to thrive, a progressive political movement needs its own media to inform, educate and orient itself.
A strong democracy depends on healthy debate, and In These Times is one of only a handful of independent media projects fighting to widen the terms of national discussion. In These Times has frequently scooped the mainstream media on stories ranging from the first coverage of global warming and extensive investigative reporting on the Iran Contra scandal in the '80s to early in-depth coverage of the genocide in the Sudan in 2004. Such reporting has earned In These Times more Project Censored awards than any other magazine.
"If it weren't for In These Times, I'd be a man without a country." --Kurt Vonnegut
A dedication to independent journalism based on progressive values is one of the primary characteristics separating In These Times from the conventional, corporate and increasingly embedded media. Over the last 28 years, In These Times has distinguished itself by producing high-quality journalism that treats women, communities of color, working people and other groups ignored by the mainstream media as legitimate audiences, sources and subjects for the news.
Over the years, In These Times has published the work of a wide range of noted writers, including fiction by Alice Walker and Kurt Vonnegut; reporting by Clinton speechwriter David Kusnet, former New Republic editor Andrew Sullivan, and Salon Editor-at-Large Joan Walsh; and political commentary by former presidential candidate George McGovern, environmentalist Sandra Steingraber, the late Democratic Sen. Paul Wellstone of Minnesota, novelists Barbara Kingsolver and Dorothy Allison, and a number of contemporary members of the House of Representatives who contributed to the magazine's "House Call" column. (For a list of notable contributors to the magazine, see "In These Times Alumni" section below.)
The late Sen. Paul Wellstone, one of the first subscribers to In These Times, put it this way: "Meaningful democracy cannot survive without the free flow of information, even (or especially) when that information threatens the privileged and the powerful. At a time of growing media concentration, In These Times is an invaluable source of news and information that the corporate media would too often prefer to ignore."
IN THESE TIMES ALUMNI
Craig Aaron, Eric Alterman, Dean Baker, Sidney Blumenthal, Monika Bauerlein, Sara Corbett, David Corn, Ana Marie Cox, Barbara Ehrenreich, Ben Ehrenreich, Laura Flanders, Tom Frank, Amy Goodman, Juan Gonzales, Miles Harvey, Christopher Hayes, John Judis, Naomi Klein, Robert W. McChesney, Harold Myerson, Jim Naureckas, Craig Nelson, John Nichols, Sal Paolantonio, Christian Parenti, Michael Paterniti, Jeff Sharlet, Ken Silverstein, Jeffrey St. Clair, Ilan Stavans, Andrew Sullivan, Tracy Van Slyke, Kurt Vonnegut, Alice Walker, Joan Walsh
FOUNDING SPONSORS
Robert Allen, Julian Bond, Noam Chomsky, Barry Commoner, Al Curtis, Hugh DeLacy (1910-1986), G. William Domhoff, Douglas Dowd, David Du Bois, Barbara Ehrenreich, Daniel Ellsberg, Frances Putnam Fritchman, Stephen Fritchman, Barbara Garson, Eugene D. Genovese, Emily Gibson, Michael Harrington (1928-1989), Dorothy Healey (1914-2006), David Horowitz, Paul Jacobs (1918-1978), Arthur Kinoy, Ann J. Lane, Elinor Langer, Jesse Lemisch, Salvador Luria (1912-1991), Staughton Lynd, Harry Magdoff (1913-2006), Herbert Marcuse (1898-1979), Carey McWilliams (1905-1980), David Montgomery, Carlos Munoz, Harvey O'Connor (1897-1987), Jessie Lloyd O'Connor (1904-1988), Earl Ofari, Ronald Radosh, Paul Schrade, Derek Shearer, Stan Steiner (1925-1987), Warren Susman (1927-1985), Paul Sweezy (1910-2004), E.P. Thompson (1924-1993), Naomi Weisstein, William A. Williams (1921-1990), John Womack Jr.
EDITORIAL INDEPENDENCE POLICY
In These Times is a reader-supported, independent nonprofit news organization. We subscribe to standards of editorial independence adopted by the Institute for Nonprofit News:
Our organization retains full authority over editorial content to protect the best journalistic and business interests of our organization. We maintain a firewall between news coverage decisions and sources of all revenue. Acceptance of financial support does not constitute implied or actual endorsement of donors or their products, services or opinions.
We accept gifts, grants and sponsorships from individuals and organizations for the general support of our activities, but our news judgments are made independently and not on the basis of donor support.
Our organization may consider donations to support the coverage of particular topics, but our organization maintains editorial control of the coverage. We will cede no right of review or influence of editorial content, nor of unauthorized distribution of editorial content.
DONOR TRANSPARENCY
In These Times is committed to transparency in every aspect of funding our organization.
Accepting financial support does not mean we endorse donors or their products, services or opinions.
We accept gifts, grants and sponsorships from individuals, organizations and foundations to help with our general operations, coverage of specific topics, and special projects. Our news judgments are made independently—not based on or influenced by donors. We do not give supporters the rights to assign, review or edit content.
In These Times will make public all donors who give a total of $500 or more per year as part of our annual report.