Today, the public’s trust of dominant media is at historic lows.  A recent Gallup survey found 67% of the respondents expressed “little to no trust” in mainstream media.  This state of affairs begs the question that If the majority of the public doesn’t trust the dominant media, what is the impact of advertising next to it?  How valuable is advertising next to content that 67% of the population doesn’t consider trustworthy? 

Theories as to the decline in trust include that the largest media companies face the challenge of providing valuable information during what some have called a global political awakening, a time in which people are looking for information that unlocks political understanding.  It is arguable that this level of understanding cannot be provided by dominant media without it losing legitimacy by revealing its role in longstanding problems society faces.

In other words, it is arguable dominant media can no longer provide what the public wants– honest information– without creating a public that understands how these same media companies have played a central role in society’s problems, leading to demands for reform of this sector.

The stage is now set for a nationwide, independent news source that draws its economic force from the people and institutions that have been increasingly intentionally misinformed or uninformed by the domiant media.  This force is no less than 210 million people who are owners, employees or related to the owners and employees of the nation’s 27 million small businesses, 75% of the entire electorate, producing half the nation’s GDP, half its payroll, and nearly all new jobs.  And extremely pissed off.  This majority is who The Reader Magazine will inform, unify, organize and mobilize.   – CHRIS THEODORE