The Meteor is a not-for-profit, independent media project - 'an alternative, radical, community-based publication for the people of Manchester' - and this Thursday 4th July it is launching as a media co-operative with an event at the Methodist Central Hall on Oldham Street in Manchester, beginning at 6pm.
The Meteor, formerly Manchester Mule, has been reporting for the last two years on issues affecting Manchester's communities, centring on social justice... "local people fighting for change on local and global issues, often under-reported by the traditional media...grassroots organisations doing important work across the region, that are often under reported by the traditional media".
The launch event begins with a Marketplace where local groups will be sharing their latest work, campaigns and projects, including DED_ucation, Extinction Rebellion Manchester, Rapar (Refugee and Asylum Seeker Participatory Action Research), Citizen32 radical arts magazine, Tenants Union Manchester and the Partisan Collective.
Between 6:30pm and 8:30pm the Meteor team will be sharing their history and explaining how people can get involved in the project. There will also be live performances, film and a discussion about media democracy, with input from Alice Toomer-McAlpine, co-editor of The Meteor, Stephen Kingston, editor of Salford Star, Petra Morris, from Co-operatives UK, Chris Rea, Chair of NUJ Manchester and Salford, and Allan Wort from The Media Fund.
"A media co-operative, with democracy as a core value, we believe is the best way to alleviate the democratic deficit caused by the decline of traditional media" says Meteor co-editor, Conrad Bower "Giving the people of Manchester a greater say in what issues are reported on and providing a much-needed increase in the diversity of stories told and the voices telling them."
Alice Toomer-McAlpine, co-editor of The Meteor, adds: "We know that traditional media is in crisis. This has been confirmed by the recent Cairncross Review, which reports on the decline in local journalism and its negative impact on local democracy. We believe that the best way to create and sustain independent local journalism is through a radical democratisation of the power structures that underpin it. Membership is ownership. We want The Meteor to be a vehicle for the people of Manchester to own their media and in turn, own their stories."
The Meteor Co-op Launch
Thursday 4th July 6pm-8:30pm free
Methodist Central Hall, Oldham Street, Manchester
To book a free ticket – click here
For more details see the Facebook event page – click here
The Meteor has also launched a crowdfunding campaign – click here to donate
To follow the Meteor see the web page www.themeteor.org/
Or on Facebook: The Meteor, Manchester's Independent Media – click here
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