The search for new channels of information has increased immensely in an ever-evolving media environment. Disillusioned with the old gatekeepers of news, many readers “go direct” to platforms that provide their unencumbered voices. From these, BeforeItsNews is a paradigm pioneer citizen journalism platform, where literally anyone can publish, share and contribute to the global news paradigm conversation.
BeforeItsNews: Origins and Mission
Launched in 2008, BeforeItsNews positioned itself with its own particular take on citizen journalism. Before-Its-News, unlike mainstream outlets which possess restrictive editorial oversight, allows average people, whistleblowers, insiders, amateur journalists, and fly-by-by-night observers to report on stories that would otherwise slip through the cracks or be blacklisted all together.
Its slogan of “People Powered News” effectively summarizes the goal of empowering the people in the news process. Anyone who believes that a story needs telling can report it, even if it transgresses conventional news values or procedures. The platform is based on the idea that every point of view is valid and that every voice deserves to be amplified.
The Editorial Framework of BeforeItsNews Or Lack Thereof
America’s most popular conspiracy website, Before Its News, is built on lack of editorial process. Any content submitted by a registered user of the site will then get published and be made available to the public, without any gatekeepers, editors, or fact-checkers. The implications of this radically open system are vast:
- Free to publish: Users can create accounts and submit news stories without hindrance, ensuring issues that may found coverage hard-pressed of mainstream networks are reported on instead.
- Variety of Voices: The open model invites a diverse set of contributors, promoting perspectives and analysis across the spectrum.
- Perils of Misinformation: The flip side, though, is the greater chance of unsubstantiated assertions, conspiracy theories and false news. Each story must be assessed for credibility by readers.
Before Its News was conceived by its founders as a solution with which to subvert much of what has gone wrong with big media; the way big media has become trapped with corporate interests at heart, perverse bureaucratic inertia and narrative control. The design of the site purposely breaks these conventions, handing the wheel back to the people.
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BeforeItsNews: Content Scope
The main feature of BeforeItsnews is the truly vast spectrum of its content:
- Politics & Current Affairs: Contributors often question orthodoxy, debate contentious issues, and offer new perspectives, particularly in writing about news and politics.
- Health and Wellness: In particular, the platform features many topics focused on alternative health methods (natural health, natural health, wellness routines) and many of the other controversial medical topics such as vaccines and how governments and the World Health Organization responded to the pandemic.
- Originally published on www.thehustle.co Science and Technology: A smattering of articles from mainstream innovations to fringe science and speculative technologies describing the future-obsessed, curiosity-fueled mindset of its community.
- Spirituality & the Paranormal- Stories on UFOs, unexplained events, prophecies, and metaphysics that mainstream publications would likely avoid.
- Conspiracy Theories- This is an especially fertile ground for Before Its News, who provide a home for conspiracy theories, whether about politics, global events or science.
This diversity is a direct result of its open publishing platform which allows for coverage that does not pass the editorial sniff test elsewhere.
Audience and Community: Participation, Dialogue, and Growth
BeforeItsNews attracts a diverse and international audience including conspiracy theorists and journalists, health buffs and futurists, civilians and citizens alike.
- Wider Audience: Contributions and comments can be made by anyone who has access to the internet. This leads to a large and global community.
- Community Engagement- Readers are more engaged by ratting stories, giving feedback and discussing them with others, helping to drive visibility of content and the vibrancy of the site.
- Hungry for News: A core audience of “the relentlessly curious” that seeks news not covered by traditional outlets.
Participation is not merely welcomed- it is in the very DNA of the platform. As it puts in its mission, BeforeItsNews wants to provide “clarity, speed and real strategic insight that actually matters to readers or contributors.”
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Revenue Model and Platform Sustainability
BeforeItsNews gets most of its funding through advert money which makes it different from many news sites which usually stay either subscription-based or are funded by(more like supported by) philanthropic foundations. The model that supports the classless free content is: Please disable ad blockers on this platform. This means no cost to contributors or readers but also means that the site will need to rely on large amounts of traffic, and engagement to remain in the black.
The Double-Edged Sword of Citizen Journalism
BeforeItsNews is a realization of the promise of participatory media, a megaphone for important stories that would otherwise never see the light of day- but the absence of editorial control boldly invites risks:
- Misinformation: The site can, at times, publish unverified information, rumors, and sensationalist reporting-particularly on contentious issues such as health or global politics without fact-checking the information beforehand.
- Unequal Credibility: Some stories are better than others Some are well-researched and informed; others are speculative, biased or downright bunk. Thus, it is up to the reader to detect the facts and think critically.
- Media experts sharpen their criticism: BeforeItsNews is widely dismissed or deplored by mainstream analysts and fact-checkers as a veritable breeding ground for conspiracy theories and pseudoscience. However, its proponents argue that open access is vital to democracy and the free exchange of ideas.
The line is drawn between citizen journalism and traditional journalism, and BeforeItsNews is at faultline, a harbinger of the good and the bad.
Why Does Alternative News Matter?
Conspiracy theory platforms like BeforeIts News fulfill an important role in sociality:
- A voice to the voiceless: More often than not, those who contribute to and those who read online media are those who feel overlooked by mainstream media, whether it is because their concerns are not represented, or their stories are twisted.
- Encouragement of Skepticism: With the newly accepted nature of conspiracy theories, BeforeItsNews can even be seen as encouraging dissenting beliefs by allowing perspectives that could question even the most solidified narratives.
- Supporting Transparency: Open publishing allows whistleblowers and insiders to disclose information that governments or other organizations might feel compelled to conceal.
That said, the absence of a filter should give readers pause: alternative viewpoints are welcome, but unfounded assertions undermine public confidence.
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The Future of BeforeItsNews and Citizen Journalism
The emergence of platforms such as BeforeItsNews is an indicator of directional movement towards decentralized, democratized media. With technology making it possible for more people to participate, traditional news sources might be increasingly pressured to change, and to adopt transparency, accountability, and openness.
BeforeItsNews probably will continue to be at the very vanguard of this, providing both an incentive and a warning for citizen-sourced efforts. As long as users are discerning in their reading habits, the platform presents an unmatched chance to experience non-commercial stories for its readers.
Tips for Navigating BeforeItsNews
If you have never used the platform before, these are the best practices to get the most out of it while avoiding the information you don’t need:
- Be a critical reader: Question the sources, look for evidence to back up the claims, and seek confirmation from other publications.
- Thoughtful Participation: Join in on community voices, request references, and contribute your thoughts
- Exercise Caution Against Sensationalism: Not all stories are as reliable as everyone would like to believe; use common sense here and always seek an expert if there is a contentious issue.
BeforeItsNews is not just a website, it is an unceasing endeavor in media democracy. It is a space where all voices should be heard, but where all claims should be made carefully. For the “incorrigibly curious” and “aspiring futurists,” for those who mean to disrupt, it is both a tool and a burden.
Final words
BeforeItsNews is both an interesting experiment in media democracy and an example of the complications that arise with the use of unchecked information. While removing editorial gatekeepers allows anyone from whistleblowers to ordinary people the opportunity to publish stories that otherwise might not see the light of day, the openness has the potential to showcase an abundance of misinformation, speculation, and conspiracy theories. For its readers, Before Its News is an interesting alternative window into alternative points of view, the appointed nature of the publication requires well-developed critical thinking and scepticism from its users to differentiate the real from the imagined. In terms of citizen journalism, Before-Its-News is a leader and a reminder that with liberty comes liability.
