The Municipal News, founded in 1911 due to public dissatisfaction with commercial media, aimed to provide free, community-focused journalism. Overseen by citizen volunteers, it tackled local issues alongside broader topics. Despite its potential as a model for participatory media, it was dismantled within two years due to corporate pressure, highlighting persistent challenges in maintaining independent journalism. As evidenced by the subsequent rise of privately funded public broadcasting and a climate skeptical of government involvement, the article notes the continuing struggles for media democracy against commercialism.
The Municipal News was created as a response to the dissatisfaction with commercial media's 'clickbait' and 'fake news', aiming to reflect genuine public interest.
Despite its potential as a community-driven model, the Municipal News was ultimately shut down due to corporate opposition and lack of sustained support.
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