As A Record Aside approaches its twentieth anniversary—a milestone in unbiased, web-based publishing—we’re as soon as once more reimagining the journal. We would like your suggestions. And most of all, we would like you.
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We’re eliminating advertisers and digging again to our roots: community-based, community-built, and determinedly non-commercial. If you wish to spotlight native occasions or improvements, develop your abilities, give again, or discover every other aim or thought, we’re right here to assist you with networking and backing from the neighborhood.
Lately, we’ve seen our wealthy universe of various, inventive blogs and websites implode—leaving fewer and fewer channels accessible to new voices. As extra content material centralizes right into a handful of omnipotent networks, there’s a dreary sameness in perspective and presentation.
This creeping monopolization is a tragic echo of how media labored within the twentieth century. It doesn’t mirror twenty first century variety and empowerment. It’s not the online’s promise. It’s not the way it’s purported to be.
We have now no beef with networks like Twitter or Fb, or with firms like Apple and Google that presently dominate our communal digital area. We simply assume variety is about increasing and talking up—not consolidating and homogenizing.
Outline the subsequent decade with us#section2
A Record Aside has all the time been greater than a writer; we’re an ecosystem of practitioners who’re keen about our craft. We’ll hold discovering and sharing nice articles—we’re simply taking it to the subsequent stage.
Two methods to pitch in#section3
If you wish to put your favourite abilities to make use of, develop your skilled expertise, or have a aim or thought for A Record Aside, we’re right here to hear. And in the event you’d wish to assist us in another method, we’ve made that simple, too. Presently there are two methods to pitch in:
Groups#section4
Use the e-mail tackle on the backside of this message to tell us if you wish to create or be a part of a group that “owns” some space you’re eager about, similar to:
- Design & improvement
- Neighborhood service and native meetups/occasions
- Training and entry stage/superior sources
- Ebook/useful resource protection and opinions
- Editorial: Modifying, acquisitions, and electronic mail
- Social media, search engine marketing, or advertising
- Mission administration
- Your solutions!
Membership#section5
When you don’t have time to volunteer however nonetheless wish to assist us, you’ll be capable of provide different types of assist—as an illustration, making a small, month-to-month donation by way of Patreon to assist cowl our bills. This may even grant you membership advantages. (Particulars at Patreon.)
Extra about all of this may quickly be revealed. Meantime, if in case you have suggestions or questions on what we’ve shared up to now, kindly fireplace away within the feedback. (Hey, how’s that for an thought? A feedback part that’s optimistic and never divisive.)
As we think about the subsequent 20 years of internet design, there’s loads we don’t know—aside from a robust hunch that accessible, semantic HTML will proceed to be the bedrock of all of it. However one factor we do know: the online, in its attain and its potential, is simply too essential to be left to the mercies of some {powerful} firms, nevertheless well-intended they might be.
When you’ve a thoughts to take action, please assist us hold our little nook of the indie internet alive and effectively. Assist the open internet keep open. Assist us construct the long run. To get entangled, electronic mail us at [email protected]—or share your ideas within the Feedback part under.
The unbiased content material producer refuses to die!
Jeffrey Zeldman, Writer
Aaron Gustafson, Editor-in-chief
& the gang
