New electronic weekly: New Matilda
Yesterday there was an announcement in the crikey.com.au daily email about a new electronic political weekly called New Matilda.
See the annoucement below, and please register for more information at: www.newmatilda.com.au
I really like the sound of what they stand for:
What we propose
A national, independent electronic political weekly newsletter that will
• Break news that is relevant to a more modern and generous spirited Australia.
• Professionally analyse events and issues. There is so much information, ‘but what does it mean’?
• Innovate policy. We will maintain a steady course on the big policy issues. For example, we will aim to develop a health policy for Australia. We will do this through public discussion in the newsletter.
• Create a constituency of change by nurturing the confidence and convictions of disaffected people, and re-engaging the discouraged,
Why we propose this newsletter
Existing media is predictable and tightly controlled. ‘Spin’ is corrupting public debate. Parochialism and fear are promoted. There is little policy innovation.
There is anger in the community over the leaching away of honesty, decency and ‘loss of soul’. That anger must be tempered with hope and channelled into action.
Electronic technology offers new opportunities. With internet, the centres of power are now less stable.
Our editorial position
Pluralist, liberal and relevant to a modern and more humane Australia.
Public life must be based on enduring values – truth and openness, respect for all, justice, fairness and human flourishing. We will not be value neutral.
Community and personal relationships and social cohesion are critical for a well functioning society.
Prosperity must have a social and moral purpose.
Australians have the right to fully participate in their institutions, eg political parties, business.
The excluded and disadvantaged will have a special place in our activities. Equal opportunity must be linked to personal responsibility.
Our international standing and pursuit of justice and peace depend not just on economic and military strength, but on the values we hold and project.
The response to terrorism must be based on international cooperation, intelligence and security, but also on the factors that provide a breeding ground for terrorism – injustice and poverty.
Who is the newsletter directed to?
People from all parties who feel disenfranchised by existing institutions, political parties and processes. Many are reluctant and disillusioned ALP voters. Others are moderate Liberal voters seeking a more caring response on such issues as reconciliation and refugees. Others again vote Green, Democrat or Independent.
We seek to draw together people with similar values. We will provide an inter-generational forum for new people with new ideas. Many are tired of the sermonising of the Left and the Right.
How we are proceeding
We have established a private company. The board is Hilary McPhee, Bill Gurry, Michael Henry, Rod Cameron, Susie Carleton, Lisa Bowman and John Menadue (Chair). The board has endorsed the business plan.
Supporters include John Button, Elizabeth Evatt, Lowitja O’Donoghue, John Clarke, Morry Schwartz, Robert Manne, Peter Redlich, Ian Macphee, Evan Thornley, Rebecca Huntley, Hugh Mackay, Michael Kelly, Peter Tyson, Graham Freudenberg, Julian Burnside, Stephen Duckett, Julianne Schultz, Eva Cox and Duncan Turpie.
We will shortly be appointing an editor, assistant editor (policy development) and business manager. A number of contributing editors will be appointed.
We will shortly issue an invitation to subscribe/donate. The estimated operating cost in the first full year is $380,000. We will initially raise $250,000 in shares and donations. We have pledges to date of over $220,000.
Our subscription target at the end of the second year, is 7,500 @ $50 per annum ($375,000). We will be seeking bulk subscriptions from government agencies, unions, corporations and professional firms. We plan to launch in July/August 2004.
www.newmatilda.com.au has been set up to register initial interest. We aim to have 2,500 on the register before launch. Will you help by registering your name. Could you also copy this email to interested friends.
Contact
New Matilda Pty Ltd, PO box 1025, Surry Hills, NSW, 2010
Donations: New Matilda Pty Ltd, Acct No.10152919, Commonwealth Bank, BSB 062258.
John.menadue [at] newmatilda.com.au
John Menadue
Chair 19 May 2004
The mission statement is almost too idealistic for the “New Matilda” to survive. If subscribers and contributors live up to the standards set, then it means revolution! Needless to say, such a break from the exploitative and ruinous power structures of the past is exactly what is needed if our civilisation is to survive. Why not start in Australia!?
Hi Robin,
It does sound pretty daunting but then it seems to me to be more like the thinking of this country back a few years before we wandered off on the economic rationalist highly conservative agenda.
-g
If only you can spread the message that enough Australians can understand that we are in dire straits, and get the people to understand that they, collectively, have to act to make the difference, this pensioner may be able to scrape up $50 for a subscription. Here’s hoping.
Good luck - there’s a few challenges out there! I can’t help but agree with Graeme Sutherland - it’s only a few years ago that we seemed to be a nation willing to ask questions of itself and challenge the status quo. Howard’s done a masterful job of shutting that down and it’s surely time again to challenge the old orthodoxies.
David
Today’s announcement about this new electronic weekly is like a ray of hope. It reassures me that there are some others around who feel just as frustrated as I am with the state of Australia’s press and the gradual disappearance of critical, fearless reporting in this country. It is high time that our government, and indeed all our politicians, are reminded about the values of honesty, decency and humanity. The present rot has got to stop.
Finally, somebody somewhere is doing something! ;o) Congratulations for your initiative, I’m looking forward the “birth” of New Matilda with great anticipation. Good luck for your endeavours!
I look forward to the birth of New Matilda and the promised independent analysis I am sick of the partisan view point exhibited by our adversarial system. Good Luck!
jeno Mate
Can’t say I’m that excited. As Tim Dunlop put it:
Thanks… but no thanks.
Sounds boring - why don’t they just set up blogs with RSS feeds?
I admire you for taking up this daunting task,if i wasn’t a seriously poor student i’d make a big donation,good luck.
Good luck. Anyone game to stand up to Uncle Rupert gets my vote.
I care about keeping services and the middle managers who direct them in small
rural centres for service, inspiration and social leavening. Any room for me in
your outfit? (signed) Pike
Good luck! Good idea! Hope it works! Eor what it is worth, I’m with you.
Thanks for the comments, folks. I’m not involved with New Matilda myself, just interested in supporting it. Have a look at the New Matilda website at http://www.newmatilda.com
Cautiously sceptical.
We don’t need another group pretending to take the middle of the road position.
As the Aneurin Bevan once said, those that take said position get run over.
What we need is for someone to take a good long look at where the majority of Australians, the workers, are being done over, and being fooled into supporting the same being done to others (refugees, iraqis, etc)- and propose solutions.
That means taking sides. Seriously.
And acting on it.
If it’s someone to stand up to Murdoch you want, we’re already here:
http://www.greenleft.org.au
We do our bit, and I hope newmatilda does theirs, but we need more- we need to start the process of building new politics in this country- a Humane, truly Democratic and Just system.
I have been here before - subscribed to Nation Review, it folded, The Catholic Worker, it folded, others I can’t recall. However, let’s do it again. It’s absolutely necessary as an antidote to cynicism. Ever the sceptic. Susan
hey green loose the cuban bloke and attitude on you site and you might be taken seriously
that ‘comrades’ student union crap has had its use by date - I agree we need a new party that directly challenges the Howard/Coalition political stasis Australians have hung around their own neck by not openly challenging succinctly Howards non-political yet conservative stance. Have to fight them but cable knit jumpers arent the look to do it in champ.
NSR