Baltimore Brew founders Mark Reutter and Fern Shen
One could argue the health of modern society can be directly correlated to the state of its media. When consumerism took hold in the latter half of the 20th Century, we felt its influence creep into all forms of publishing and broadcasting as large corporations absorbed most major media outlets. The resulting environment was one where only a few organizations had control of most of the messaging worldwide. The exceptions to this rule are the media channels dictated by the state in countries run by despots and theocrats. To varying degrees the result is the same. The means by which communities might best deliver messages and provide information, in their own interests, had been relieved from their control, leaving them vulnerable to messages and policies written by committees that have no stake in the sustainability of local neighborhoods and cities except to extract revenue from them. It’s a cryin’ shame.
In less than a decade, the modern media landscape has been transformed from a rather orderly band of profitable entities occupying print, television and radio to a violently shifting industry inundated by small groups filling the holes left by the modern media mega corporations. From a personal perspective, as a digital publisher, I’ve seen several online publications come and go. The ones that seem to be weathering the storm are the ones that have a mission that goes beyond profit.
Recently, we had the chance to interview Fern Shen, publisher of one of the most important digital publications in Baltimore, The Baltimore Brew. She has a unique perspective on New Media after spending nearly twenty years at the Washington Post. Unlike many of her contemporaries, Shen and partner Mark Reutter have embraced the challenges of 21st Century publishing. And because of their willingness to pioneer, The Brew is one of the few independent digital media organizations that are practicing disciplined traditional journalism. They have given a clear voice to issues our city desperately needs to address and they have done so with little or no compensation. They are working in your best interest to tell important stories that are being ignored or missed and this is why you should contribute to this Kickstarter Campaign. We can no longer depend solely upon deteriorating institutions to deliver the full story to your front door. If we want media that works in the interest of our community, we have to take some responsibility for it by contributing either our time or financial support.
Contribute to The Baltimore Brew
