On 31. October 2016, one week before the American presidential elections, was a “Mother Jones”, with a controversial revelation: Since at least five years of care Russia close ties to Donald Trump , have him play incriminating Material about Hillary Clinton, and pursuing the goal of the democratic process in the United States. Although the time was not enough to clarify the disclosure with further research finally, the Editors of the magazine to the publication of the conclusions of the former British agent Christopher Steele.
“Mother Jones” did something, what did not dare more prominent media . Also, the “New York Times” knew, for example, from the Steele affair, and the suspicions about a collusion between Trump and Moscow. But they were silent and committed sin to a potentially major Omission.
Steele’s Paper does not refute
“The voters had the right to know that the Federal police FBI takes Russia papers seriously and investigated,” explains the managing Director of “Mother Jones”, Monika Peasant, today. “Therefore, we have reported about it, even if we were not able to verify the contents completely.” The bold approach was the “New York Times” on the same day in Empty running, by reported, the FBI did not see any direct relationships between Trump and Russia; it is a claim that has been rebutted as the Steele-Dossier has been published through other channels in full-length.
The Steele described the operations in Russia have been invalidated by today, in any Central point. Special investigator Robert Mueller expected to respond to you, if he will publish its soon expected final report. But would it have been the correct representation of the magazine before the elections, of which Peasant is convinced, “would have enough time to lead a whole other discussion about the choice”.
It was a rare setback was that, but there is no reason for the Blade makers Monika Peasant and Clara Jeffrey. Quite to the contrary. For “Mother Jones” proved to be the Trump choice as a welcome drive for business. In the last two years, the range of the in San Francisco out of the magazine increased significantly. Peasant was able to hire more journalists, and especially the digital offer to build on it. The printed magazine is published only six times a year, but the site delivers daily a concise, Essential Overview of world events. The negative spiral between declining advertising revenue and less attention to the many other, larger media are suffering, “Mother Jones” saves. “Our goal has always been to expand the readership. We managed to do that thanks to social media.”
Social title story engaged: over the heavily indebted US students. Photos: “Mother Jones”
The success had to be developed. As a Peasant joined 15 years ago of the magazine, the editorial team of six journalists. Today Mother Jones” in San Francisco, and Washington has “nearly 60 staff journalists and has a Budget of more than $ 17 million. The almost $ 5 million more than three years ago. The pad is located at 233’000 copies, and the Online edition is monthly used by six to eight million readers, four times more than four years ago. But even more impressive is the publicist of performance. “Mother Jones” was a 31-time finalist for the award as magazine of the year and won in 2017, the coveted prize as the best magazine. MoJo has received such prices for an exceptionally deeply researched, complex reports, the dodging of the Mainstream.
report for 350’000 dollars
For example, there was a Reporter from “Mother Jones”, the train in the US, revealed as an Undercover employee of a prison, the abuses of the privatised prison. The report at a cost of 350’000 dollars, and the country attracted wide attention. The abuses were so serious, that President Obama decided that the contracts of the government with the private prisons resolve. (Trump has made the decision to reverse.)
It was also “Mother Jones”, published in 2012, a video recording of Mitt Romney, how he will donors be told his money is despicable about the Obama voters. This story also threw up high waves and is likely to have cost Romney the election chances. For the magazine but she was a high risk, because a hard-to-rich Romney-money donors a libel filed suit, and in the first round, also won. But MoJo won in the appeal. However, the court spoke to the magazine for no compensation for litigation costs of over $ 2 million.
The magazine is financed to 68 percent, from subscriptions and donations.
paid off and that the magazine had specifically invested in the reader loyalty and donations to the damage compensated for. In the meantime, the magazine is financed to 68% from donations and subscriptions, and only 13 percent of the funds come from advertising. “This makes us opposite to our readers to be responsible, committed as we are a vibrant democracy and a free, fearless press.”
While most of the media desperately trying to make with digital content to make money, “Mother Jones” on its Website, no payment barrier. “We want to make our daily offering to a wide audience, not just those who are already well informed. And those readers who can afford it, are willing to Fund us,” says Peasant its decision, the wants not out of the question. She is convinced that media can no longer be financed in the future, mainly with advertising, but mainly the reader will need to be supported.
In a specific case the can be a Sponsor as the founder of the ads website “Craigslist”. Craig Newmark sent last year a Check of one Million dollars as part of its campaign to promote enlightened of journalism . Increasingly large title go in the USA in a different way. They sell themselves to rich investors. The “Washington Post”, the “Los Angeles Times” or the “Boston Globe” – they all hope to be able to with the help of billionaires to survive. For the Peasant the is out of the question: “As a basis of the free media, you can’t rely on a single person.”
Monika Peasant, managing Director of German origin. Photo: Walter Niederberger
Peasant has journalistic blood in your veins. Her father Heinz Peasant was a correspondent for Bavarian broadcasting and the First German television. After Trying out as a freelance journalist, the 54-year-old native of Munich went with a Fulbright scholarship in the USA and worked in Minnesota for a student newspaper. There you have licked “journalistic blood”. In the case of “Mother Jones” was as an investigative reporter before she was appointed in 2015 to the managing Director.
her European Background helps her today, the phenomenon of Trump to classify it. A direct line from Nazism in Germany and fascism in Italy to the autocrat in the White house does not want to drag. “The civil society in the United States is stronger today. We have seen, for example, how the choice of Trump a lot of democratic energy that has, among other things, with the marches of the women.” Peasant is right to left. “In the United States, the vast majority of missing to follow an authoritarian Leader. And actually, it doesn’t take so much, Trump in two years.” But absolutely resistant to the US-democracy is not, she acknowledges, and refers to President Barack Obama. A single term in office, Trump would sustain the System, as Obama said recently in a private circle, but he should get a second term, was no longer so sure.
Endangered democracy
The magazine, which was founded in 1976 and according to the militant trade unionist Mary Harris Jones is named, holds out as well as possible from the Twitter-Storms of the President. But even the editors can’t ignore the great interest of the readers to the bizarre events in the White house, even if this requires a delicate balancing act. You wanted, with the selection of the contents of a clear counter-weight to Trump, Peasant: “that’s Why we report more constructive and engaged citizens movements who consider Trump as we know from the point of view of the abuse of power and want to do.”
at the same time, the editorial staff of the reporting by the President to dictate to. “Many Mainstream media are entered in a Trump trap. You the General insight into how Trump needs to miss you and at the same time to attack is missing. He not only tried to influence reporting. Have done in politics. The Republicans and Trump want to destroy the role of the media as an arbitrator of recognized facts.” The breathless reporting on every Tweet, and every ill-considered Statement help only to the President. That is why the magazine wants to dedicate the elections of 2020, the aspect of the fundamentally threatened democracy. “Law and injustice since the establishment of the “red thread” for our work,” says Peasant. “With President Trump the concerns as never before, to our core.”
(editing Tamedia)
Created: 24.02.2019, 18:10 PM
