"Independence Drives" and Community-Run Sites
We gravitate towards truth, not money
For quite some time now FOSS Force has had this "2026 Independence Drive", saying we need to "keep independent FOSS journalism alive". Some years ago FOSS Force rightly criticised the Linux Foundation. Years later the Linux Foundation paid FOSS Force for some puff pieces (as did other parties), which corroded trust and raised questions.
We in Techrights never had a need for an "Independence Drive" because we were always independent and community-run. When Shane brought me onboard as a coauthor there was no corporate influence (neither him nor he worked for any tech company) and the same is true for Tux Machines, where the editor and curator is Rianne despite the site being run by a community of people. They prefer to remain anonymous, but evil people try to unmask them (to abuse and dox them). Never underestimate jealousy and its harms.
Independence in reporting is a much-valued trait. It typically requires that people have "side occupations" to fund this reporting (paying bills). People naturally gravitate towards what they perceive to be independent commentary. That's why we still do rather well and carry on at an even growing pace or ever-growing speed. Evil, deeply corrupt corporations that we criticise are trying to stop us, but they'll never succeed; they only dig a deeper hole for themselves any time they attack critics. The EPO learned this the hard way over a decade ago.
Now fly me to the moon and let's get on with independent journalism which does not (and never did) operate like a business and has no owners. █