Alternet

U.S. left / progressive

Background

AlterNet was founded in 1997 by Don Hazen, a former publisher at the progressive magazine Mother Jones, and launched its website in 1998 under the umbrella of the Independent Media Institute (IMI), a San Francisco-based nonprofit. It quickly became one of the most prominent left-leaning news sites on the early web, aggregating and producing progressive commentary and investigative journalism. For roughly two decades, IMI funded the outlet through a mix of foundation grants and donations, with backers including the Nathan Cummings Foundation, the Drug Policy Alliance, and the Craigslist Charitable Fund. In late 2017, executive director Don Hazen resigned following allegations of serial sexual harassment, triggering a leadership crisis. In 2018, IMI sold AlterNet to the owners of Raw Story, another left-of-center digital news outlet, consolidating the two under a single ownership structure. Under Raw Story Media, AlterNet has continued to operate as an openly progressive outlet, relying on advertising, reader subscriptions, and grants. Media watchdog organizations including AllSides and Media Bias/Fact Check consistently rate AlterNet as left to far-left in editorial orientation, and its coverage has been noted for advocacy framing rather than straight news reporting.

Sources

1. AlterNet – Wikipedia
2. AlterNet – Media Bias/Fact Check
3. AlterNet Media Bias Rating – AllSides
4. AlterNet – InfluenceWatch
5. Independent Media Institute – InfluenceWatch
6. AlterNet acquired by Raw Story – Nieman Journalism Lab
7. Don Hazen resigns as publisher of AlterNet – Raw Story

Profile compiled 2026-07-29; refreshed when ownership, funding, or the administration changes.

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