History and Accomplishments

Founded in 1993, the Progressive Media Project began with the goal of invigorating our democracy by opening up the national debate. We believe that all citizens need maximum access to the forums of discussion if our democracy is to function properly. The Progressive Media Project helps provide this access in one of these forums: the op-ed, or commentary, page of our nation’s newspapers.

The Media Project has distributed more than 2,500 op-eds since 1993, and has hosted nearly 30 skills-building writing clinics for foundation grantees, nonprofit organizations, activists and community groups. Last year, we distributed 215 pieces, which were placed at least 728 times, in some of the nation’s largest papers. By placing so many commentaries, we helped seed the clouds of change in this country.

Our pieces run in some of the leading metropolitan papers, including: the Baltimore Sun, Boston Globe, Buffalo News, Chicago Tribune, Cincinnati Enquirer, Cleveland Plain Dealer, Denver Post, Hartford Courant, Houston Chronicle, Las Vegas Review Journal, Lexington Herald-Leader, Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, Nashville Banner, Oregonian, Philadelphia Inquirer, Providence Journal-Bulletin, Roanoke Times, San Francisco Examiner, San Jose Mercury News, and many others.

The Progressive Media Project creates broader ripples. Project writers are frequently featured on radio and television news programs after writing op-eds. And our pieces are reprinted in many different domains – on websites, in community weeklies, student newspapers, and nonprofit’s newsletters, among others. Every year, several of our commentaries are reprinted for use in high school and college classrooms. And our authors recurrently receive invitations to speak at special conferences, forums, college classes, and have even been approached for Congressional hearings.

The Progressive Media Project is working to bring about a more just and equitable society, establish a fair international economic order, preserve the natural environment, democratize the media, end discrimination, and promote peace and human rights. We bolster the work of grassroots activists and nonprofit groups by expanding their capacity to better communicate their views on the "op-ed," or commentary, pages of our nation’s newspapers.

We strategically selected the op-ed page because it is the area of the media that is most accessible and influential. It is accessible because newspaper editors have designated this section as an open forum for new ideas and opinions. The second most widely read section of the newspaper, it is where American citizens mull over the arguments about the way the world should be. It is also the place where policy-makers measure the mood of the public and gain new perspectives on social problems. Many nonprofit groups and foundations rely on the op-ed page to transmit their views to the public.

We edit and distribute approximately 200 to 300 commentaries each year. We solicit and distribute commentaries from advocates, specialists, and staff of nonprofit organizations who have expertise in a certain area but may not know how to communicate their views succinctly or distribute them widely. We help them get over both of these hurdles and thus help democratize the range of opinions offered to American citizens through the media. Were it not for the Progressive Media Project, these authors would not have access to their fellow citizens, and the American public and policy-makers would not have the opportunity to weigh new ideas and information. Our democracy depends on the fullest and freest exchange of facts and opinion, but often in the past, the public debate has been confined to an elite few. The Progressive Media Project strives to open wide the doors, and thus helps democratize the range of opinions offered to American citizens.

The Progressive Media Project has an impact on the national dialogue in several ways. First, by placing so many commentaries, it helps to change the climate of opinion in this country. While this is a gradual process and the immediate effect is not always discernible, over the long term these educational pieces lift the level of national discourse.

Second, the Project is a leading force for diversity in journalism. The voices on the op-ed or forum pages don’t always reflect the diversity of America. Many newspaper editors don’t know where to turn to find diverse voices for their op-ed pages, and many writers don’t know how to access these pages. We solve both of these problems.

Third, we serve an indispensable role for nonprofit groups in their issue campaigns and public education efforts.

Fourth, outside of reaching newspaper readers, Media Project commentaries spark further media attention. Oftentimes, authors are invited to speaking events in the areas of their expertise, or have radio, television, and newspaper interviews.

Fifth, our op-eds are often reprinted for use in high school or college classes and occasionally textbooks as well.

The Progressive Media Project produces an annual report at the end of the year detailing the project’s accomplishments and activities. Please contact us if you would like to request a copy.