The Conversation
U.S. center-left (academic)
Background
The Conversation was founded in Melbourne, Australia in 2011 by former newspaper editor Andrew Jaspan and ex-Fairfax Media executive Jack Rejtman, aiming to give academics a direct outlet to the public and counter declining specialist journalism in traditional newsrooms. The model — scholars write, journalists edit for clarity and accuracy — expanded internationally, launching in the UK (2013), the U.S. (2014, based in Boston), Canada, Africa, France, and other regions, with each edition run as a separately funded nonprofit affiliated under a shared global network. Funding comes primarily from partner universities that pay membership fees, along with foundations and individual donations; content is published free under Creative Commons and widely republished by other outlets. Because contributors are academics, coverage skews toward peer-reviewed research framing on topics like climate change, public health, and social policy, which critics argue gives it a center-left tilt even though it does not endorse candidates or parties. The outlet has generally maintained a reputation for factual accuracy and transparency (author credentials and funding disclosures are published with each piece), though it has faced occasional criticism for uneven editorial rigor across its many volunteer academic contributors. It does not take an institutional partisan stance on U.S. politics, and its framing of the Trump administration varies by topic and author rather than following a consistent editorial line.
Sources
Profile compiled 2026-09-28; refreshed when ownership, funding, or the administration changes.