Disillusionment with traditional media is growing. From the BBC — long regarded as “Britain’s most trusted broadcaster” — to the surge of far-right narratives across social media, public trust in dominant rhetoric is collapsing.
Bias in the media is no longer a hidden flaw; it’s a defining feature. And it’s not accidental.
To prevent any genuine challenge from the working class, the billionaires behind social media platforms perpetuate these biases. A truly open space for discussion would threaten their power — so, despite their promises of “free speech,” these platforms are anything but free. They may cost nothing to use, but their control over what can be said or seen comes at a far greater price.
Freedom of the press, once a cornerstone of democracy, is under threat.
Newspaper pages are shaped by billionaire editors, while social media feeds are governed by opaque algorithms. Both mechanisms determine what the public is exposed to, and both serve to narrow the range of perspectives we encounter. The decline in critical coverage of those in power — and the disappearance of opinion pieces that challenge dominant narratives — is no coincidence. It reflects a growing culture of self-censorship within the media industry itself, driven by privilege, profit, and fear of backlash.
Without a genuinely free press, democracy is at risk.
When a small elite — whether governmental or corporate — controls the dominant narrative, corruption festers unchecked. This arrangement may serve the interests of tech leaders and media owners, but it leaves ordinary people unheard and uninformed.
Freedom of the press and freedom of speech are deeply intertwined. Silencing dissenting voices — especially those from marginalised communities — hands control of the microphone back to the powerful few.
If the press isn’t free, neither are we.
What society needs are more platforms that enable honest, unapologetic expression: spaces where individuals can communicate without fear of censorship or suppression.
That’s where ANARKISS comes in.
Founded in 2024 by UK-based writer Lisa Fouweather, ANARKISS is a punk-inspired art and literary zine rooted in countercultural expression. It offers a home to the marginalised and misunderstood — to anyone who feels disillusioned or “othered” by mainstream society.
Part art publication, part political commentary, ANARKISS stands firmly against capitalism, authority, and war. It celebrates gender fluidity, queer positivity, and creative rebellion in all its forms.
In doing so, it upholds the principles of a truly free press:
- Alternative perspectives: It amplifies voices excluded from mainstream media.
- Independence: Free from advertisers, algorithms, and institutional oversight, it has the freedom to take creative and political risks.
- Empowerment: It provides a platform for artists and writers to transform dissent into dialogue, and frustration into expression.
Supporting independent publications like ANARKISS — alongside outlets such as Novara Media — is one of the few ways left to ensure that the stories we consume remain diverse, truthful, and free from corporate influence.
Only through such support can we begin to restore a media landscape that serves people, not power.
Portfolio of Hope 