Investing in the greater good, but with a hidden agenda

Does the rise of nonprofit journalism come with a price? For Slate.com writer Jack Shafer, the answer is yes.

In his 2009 article, "Nonprofit Journalism Comes at a Cost" Shafer suggests that content for commercial media as well as independent nonprofit media is based around interests of investors and advertisers saying, "Both nonprofit news and commercial news often find themselves constrained by the hidden agendas of their masters. Just as commercially supported journalists often find themselves dispatched to investigate the owners' hobbyhorses, nonprofit newsers are frequently assigned to 'chase after the idiosyncratic whims of funders'."

Though this may be true for some nonprofit media outlets, this seems to be more of a generalization then actual fact. Most independent blogs and websites begin because they are different from commercial, or mainstream news, and these independent websites find some sort of niche audience who choose to follow them. When a site has a lot of viewers it is more likely to receive advertising, but it needs the followers first. So in many cases of nonprofit media, the content or theme is already present, and to change that to cater to the interests of the advertisers or investors could potentially lose the people who follow the site.

Shafer says, "Donors to nonprofits seek not payouts from their investment but psychic income. They want to feel that their money has done good, or at least caused 'evil' some pain. They want to help publish stories that will make Congress to sit up and take notice and pass legislation. The want the major media to chase their stories. They want to publish stories that will convince voters to vote the way they'd have them vote."

I don't see this as a hidden agenda. One of the main differences between indy media, and mainstream media is that indy media has the ability to lay it on the line, show a clear bias, and voice things that could potentially be offensive. And that is what makes indy media so appealing to readers seeking the truth.