The State of Z

Z Magazine begins its 18th year this month. We can hardly believe it, especially since we were told at the outset that we could never do it, not with start up funds of $40,000. But despite financial ups and downs, including another funding crisis last year, we’ve been able to improve and expand our efforts and projects, thanks to help from readers and supporters. 

Our mission from the beginning has been to provide “independent critical thinking on political, cultural, social, and economic life; and to assist activist efforts for a better future. With this mission in mind, we have never felt limited to one project or one media. So we have evolved into Z Communications, including Z Magazine (in print and online), Z Media Institute, Z Video Productions, and ZNet. 

Staff: We started Z with two people—Lydia Sargent and Michael Albert—in 1988. Eric Sargent joined in 1989. In 1996 Michael moved almost exclusively to running ZNet, while Lydia and Eric worked on the magazine. Andy Dunn joined the staff in 2003 to work on the magazine and video production. Daniel Morducho- wicz joined the ZNet staff in 2004. 

Z Magazine : Each month, we prepare Z at our offices in Woods Hole between the first and the 10th of the month. It is shipped from our printer in Ohio to subscribers and distributors around the country. Print subscriptions continue in the 8,000 to 10,000 range, with an estimated pass along readership of 15,000. Another 3,000 (and growing) access Z Magazine in its online format. Newsstand distribution ranges from between 7,500 and 9,000. 

Z Net: ZNet features a wide range of articles (mostly different from the ones in the magazine) from writers and reporters all over the world. It has extensive archives as well as various interactive sub-sites and “Watch Areas.” Last year, a pull-out menu index system was created, the search system revamped, web logs (or “blogs”) were added, forums were upgraded, and a new Z Store is now in the works. 

One of the key aspects of ZNet is its Sustainer program, which allows people to help the entire Z Communications project financially through a flexible monthly or yearly donation. While most of ZNet is available for free, the Sustainer program provides donors with a daily Commentary and access to Z Magazine Online. 

A Fall 2004 fundraising program through ZNet—in response to projected revenue shortfalls—raised enough money to keep us in the black and proved so successful that it was wrapped up after only a few weeks. 

Z Video Productions: We have filmed and produced over 30 videos of mainly talks, seminars, and panel discussions since 1998. This year we’re pleased to have included a documentary on the Argentine rebellion of 2001, produced by ZNet commentator, Ezequiel Adamovsky, titled 19/20 Echoes of a Rebellion. Our videos are selling well, with DVDs now far outselling VHS. We hope the new online store will make it easier for people to hear about new releases and to purchase videos. 

Z Media Institute: We’ll be holding our tenth Z Media Institute this year, where speakers and staff (ranging from Noam Chomsky to Amy Goodman, Justin Podur to Sonali Kolhatkar) will discuss alternative media operations, organizing, activism, political economy, and social vision to more than 60 students from around the U.S. and from other countries as well. (Information and applications appear in this issue and online. 

How You Can Help: Many people are surprised to learn that we’ve been around for 18 years, as they’re just now hearing about us. The main way you can help us, and all alternative media, is to tell people about it, subscribe, buy gifts for friends and libraries, contribute to our Sustainer program, and keep providing interesting material for publication. 

Future Plans : Z Magazine will continue to feature activist efforts for social change as well as more articles in our series “Z Papers On Vision And Strategy.” Z Video Productions is discussing the possibility of doing more videos in different formats, such as interviews/discussions where invited guests would discuss specific issues. ZNet plans to provide more audio offerings and online instruc- tionals, possibly even an entire online school system. 

We also have been exploring the feasibility of starting a Z Satellite Radio project. 

We’ll attend the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre this month to cover this international movement of millions. And we’ll continue to do what we can to support and promote other media and activist groups working for radical change. 

By avoiding such corporate forms as a rigid hierarchy or a bloated bureaucracy devoted to raising advertising or big-money donor revenues, we’ve attempted to maintain our political ideals in everyday practice while continuing to offer an expanding variety of media content.  

A s the grim reality of facing another four years under Bush settles into the collective conscience of the nation and the world, we want to encourage thoughtful resistance that moves us in the direction of positive change. Again and again, our writers have pointed out that building democracy and improving living conditions for the world’s majority has always required an active population engaged in direct actions, and that this would be true no matter who had been elected president (and even whether or not the election involved more than the usual corruption inherent in a money- driven society and political system). 

Thanks: We like to take this opportunity to thank all those who have been reading and contributing to Z over the years. Through the ongoing assistance of our readers and supporters, we hope to continue working against empire, in the spirit of resistance, and for equity for another 18 years.