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New: following the @LabourTogether analysis of @LabourParty's #GE2019, we look at what the report does and doesn't say about #altmedia. https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/medialse/2020/07/01/are-alternative-media-still-relevant-to-the-labour-party-what-labours-election-review-says-and-what-it-doesnt/
You may remember that during #GE2017 many alternative media sites were described as a “new force shaping the election debate”. Indeed, this was the impetus for the @ESRC project I am on w/ @Stephen_Cushion & @rich_thomas99 https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/jun/01/diy-political-websites-new-force-shaping-general-election-debate-canary
@jimwaterson's excellent coverage of these sites also kicked started the "rise" narrative that we have been exploring through our project. https://www.buzzfeed.com/jimwaterson/the-rise-of-the-alt-left
In my overview of #GE2017, I took the view that these sites were part of a catalytic mixture of digital media and younger activists which were invigorating the @LabourParty - a "shot of adrenaline", as I called it. https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-030-00822-2_13
NOW, fast forward to 2020, and to Labour’s 2019 General Election review, and these alternative media sites are now barely mentioned. In fact, they feature just briefly on page 96 of the @LabourTogether report. Quite the reversal from this:
But in the aftermath of the election, we argued and hold that left-leaning alternative media would continue with a purpose, because the “conditions that led to their creation will undoubtedly continue and even intensify”. http://www.electionanalysis.uk/uk-election-analysis-2019/section-7-news-and-journalism/an-uncertain-future-for-alternative-online-media/
Thus, in the article, we draw attention to key points posed by the election review, namely:
That “many alternative media sources have declined in reach since the 2017 election”
That “these outlets also tend to operate in silos, focused on internal Labour Party processes"
That “many alternative media sources have declined in reach since the 2017 election” That “these outlets also tend to operate in silos, focused on internal Labour Party processes"
As well as points not raised, namely:
The potential reach that alternative media spokespersons achieved on broadcast programming during the election.
The new and now widening divide between the Labour leadership and alternative media, and what that means.
The potential reach that alternative media spokespersons achieved on broadcast programming during the election. The new and now widening divide between the Labour leadership and alternative media, and what that means.
So the question, "Are left-wing alternative media still relevant?", is one we don't fully answer here, but one that many will be asking now and one that we will be addressing towards the end of the year, when we start producing our analyses. /end. https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/medialse/2020/07/01/are-alternative-media-still-relevant-to-the-labour-party-what-labours-election-review-says-and-what-it-doesnt/
And many thanks to @Emmamagoodman for helping to edit this piece.
