openDemocracy is an independent media platform and news website based in the United Kingdom. Founded in 2001, openDemocracy states that through reporting and analysis of social and political issues, they seek to "challenge power and encourage democratic debate" around the world.
The founders of the website have been involved with established media and political activism. The platform has been funded by grants from organisations such as
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, the
Open Society Foundations, the
Ford Foundation
The Ford Foundation is an American private foundation with the stated goal of advancing human welfare. Created in 1936 by Edsel Ford and his father Henry Ford, it was originally funded by a US$25,000 gift from Edsel Ford. By 1947, after the dea ...
, and
Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust
The Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust (JRCT) is a philanthropic grant making trust that supports work undertaken in the UK and Ireland, and previously South Africa. It is one of three original trusts set up by Joseph Rowntree in 1904. The Trust ...
, as well as by receiving direct donations from readers.
History
openDemocracy was founded in 2000 by
Anthony Barnett, David Hayes, Susan Richards and
Paul Hilder
Paul Hilder is a British-born social entrepreneur, writer and organiser. As well as working for non-profit organisations, he is a co-founder of openDemocracy.net and has stood for various positions in the Labour Party. Career
He is co-founder and ...
.
First publication began in May 2001.
Founder
Anthony Barnett,
Charter 88 organiser and political campaigner, was the first editor (2001–2005) and
Isabel Hilton
Isabel Nancy Hilton OBE (born 25 November 1949) is a Scottish journalist and broadcaster based in London.
Early life
Hilton was educated at Edinburgh University, where she studied Chinese to post-graduate level. As Secretary of the entirely ...
was editor from 2005 to 2007. She was succeeded in 2010 by Rosemary Bechler, who in turn handed over the editorship to Adam Ramsay in 2019. In 2012 the editor-in-chief was Magnus Nome, who was succeeded by Mary Fitzgerald.
Recent events
On 21 September 2022, the organisation announced that they were being sued in the UK by a company linked to the former