rabble.ca

rabble.ca is an alternative Canadian online magazine founded in 2001.[1] rabble.ca works in partnership with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives and the Centre for Social Justice. It features podcasts, videos and a discussion board called babble.

Rabble logo

History

Judy Rebick founded rabble.ca on 18 April 2001.[2] The launch coincided with the Summit of the Americas in Quebec. This was the first event which rabble covered and its reporting style established a pro-activist setting for future writing.

Anti-globalization activist Jaggi Singh became one of the website's most active contributors. Due to his participation in protests at the Summit of the Americas he was jailed for offences including possession of a weapon. Rabble, along with other left-wing organisations and activists, wrote an open letter calling for her release.[3]

Upon its launch, the website raised $200,000, which included $120,000 from the Atkinson Foundation.[4]

On 7 September 2008 rabble.ca launched a multi-author election blog. The blog featuring authors such as Maude Barlow and the Council of Canadians and organizations such as the Rideau Institute.

Content

rabble.ca is split into five sections – Rabble, Babble, Podcasts, RabbleTV and Occupy.

Rabble covers a range of issues including feminism, the Gaza conflict and Canadian politics in general.[5] "In Cahoots" is a feature on the website which highlights issues raised by rabble's partner organisations on topics such as social justice and labor organizations.

The Babble section of the website is based entirely on user input and is essentially a forum for its readers. Users are encouraged to discuss the features and columns read on the website, as well as write their own articles.

Finances

Rabble's content is free and it is funded by advertising, donations, subscriptions and partner foundations. [6]

In 2002, rabble appealed to its readers for a proposed donation of $20 a month to expand the website. Rabble releases an annual finances report which lists its donors. According to the 2010 report, the website had 900 members and 200 one-time donors.[7]

Contributors

Judy Rebick, Naomi Klein, Francine Pelletier, Anna Dashtgard, Patty Barrera, Priscilla Settee and Sandra DeLaronde were among the original contributors at the launch of the website.

Judy Rebick retired in 2006 and was replaced by Amnesty International member Kim Elliott.

Former Financial Post columnist Murray Dobbin is the guest senior contributing editor for rabble.ca.[8]

The Advisory Committee of rabble.ca is composed of Dave Mitchell, Fred Wilson, John Urquhart, Linda McQuaig, Lynn Coady, and Sharon Fraser.

Reception

rabble.ca has received both praise and criticism from a range of media analysts. Shauna Rempel praised rabble for its use of the Internet to propel activism, while fellow commentator Colby Cosh as "a hobby for Judy Rebick [...] on the Canadian left" and a "vanity web project".[9]

References
  1. "Welcome to rabble.ca". rabble.ca. August 11, 2008.
  2. Rempel, Shauna (Aug 9, 2007). "Fostering political activism; The Internet is now the new launchpad for social mobilization". The Toronto Star.
  3. "Free Jaggi Singh". rabble.ca.
  4. Kuitenbrouwer, Peter (19 April 2001). "Rabble-rouser: Publisher Judy Rebick's new online magazine offers a forum for leftist thinkers and those descending on Quebec this week". The National Post.
  5. "Issues page on rabble.ca".
  6. "About us". Rabble.ca. Retrieved 2 April 2012.
  7. "Annual Report 2010" (PDF).
  8. "Biography of Murray Dobbin".
  9. Cosh, Colby (April 15, 2002). "Don't get left behind". Report Newsmagazine. ProQuest 214877120.
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