OpenDemocracy

History

openDemocracy was founded in 2000 by Anthony Barnett, David Hayes, Susan Richards and Paul Hilder. First publication began in May 2001.

Founder Anthony Barnett, Charter 88 organiser and political campaigner, was the first editor (2001–2005) and Isabel Hilton was editor from 2005 to 2007. She was succeeded in 2010 by Rosemary Bechler, who in turn handed over the editorship to Adam Ramsay in 2019. In 2012 the editor-in-chief was Magnus Nome, who was succeeded by Mary Fitzgerald, who stayed in position until May 2021. She was followed, in August 2021, by Peter Geoghegan, who stepped down in July 2023 as CEO and editor, whereupon Satbir Singh was appointed in his stead. In January 2024, Aman Sethi was appointed as editor-in-chief.

Recent events

On 21 September 2022, the organisation announced that they were being sued in the UK by a company linked to the former President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev.

Ownership and finances

openDemocracy is owned and published through a non-profit foundation. It has been funded by a number of philanthropic organisations, among them the Mott Foundation, Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, Ford Foundation, David and Elaine Potter Foundation, Lush, Andrew Wainwright Trust and the Network for Social Change.

Readership and audience

Originally attracting a meagre following, visits to openDemocracy's website grew exponentially following the September 11 attacks after it published an article by Todd Gitlin on the subject, who was in New York during the attacks. In his article, Gitlin presciently wrote that what was needed was "a focused military response—a precise one, not a revenge spasm ... but an action that distinguishes killers from civilians." openDemocracy began receiving daily international contributors and many Americans who were dissatisfied with their media's coverage on the issue logged onto the website for an alternative source. With a shift to a more broad based readership, the e-magazine "became a forum of debate for political activists, academics, journalists, businesspeople, politicians, and international civil servants from around the world" drawing interest from charitable sponsors.

By 2002, the three main topics of debate covered on the website were: the impact of globalisation, the use and abuse of American power around the world and the character of Islam. As the magazine grew, so too did its coverage of topics from climate change and regulation of global markets to the future of multiculturalism and the impact of migration. openDemocracy's mission statement asserts: "With human rights as our central guiding focus, we ask tough questions about freedom, justice and democracy. We give those fighting for their rights the agency to make their case and to inspire action."

In terms of readership, the website had nearly 9 million unique visitors in 2021, with 40% of all returning readers coming from the UK.

References

References

1. (28 July 2022). "openDemocracy Annual Report 2021–2022". openDemocracy.
2. (2019). "Historical Dictionary of Democracy". Rowman & Littlefield.
3. (1 October 2014). "openDemocracy's Supporters".
4. (2003). "Contesting Media Power: Alternative Media in a Networked World". Rowman & Littlefield.
5. Tony Bennett (Autumn/Winter 2005-06). "Opening up democracy, interview with the founder of openDemocracy.net Anthony Barnett" (PDF). ''Society Matters'' (8): 15. Retrieved 26 January 2017.
6. "Rosemary Bechler, 1951-2021".
7. (4 April 2013). "Open Democracy editor says future is 'bright' after £250,000 fundraising drive saves site from closure". [[Press Gazette]].
8. "Mary Fitzgerald". International Journalism Festival.
9. (19 April 2024). "Open Democracy could have been ‘insolvent by June’ without 40% cost reductions".
10. (5 July 2023). "Open Democracy editor and CEO Peter Geoghegan steps down".
11. "New editor-in-chief at openDemocracy".
12. Williams, Martin. (21 September 2022). "openDemocracy is being sued for public interest reporting".
13. Neate, Rupert. (21 September 2022). "Four media outlets facing libel claims over Nursultan Nazarbayev reports". [[The Guardian]].
14. "Our supporters".
15. (2011). "Media and Democracy". Taylor & Francis.