Hybrid Commercial-Activist Media Projects

Hybrid commercial-activist media projects leverage contract income, as one-half of their hybridity, to support media activism focused on grassroots community aims, as the other half, repurposing commercial income to pay for community media. The commercial portion of this type of media project encompasses working under professional contracts to provide services such as media labor, campaigns, anti-oppression training, or tech support. Projects further diversify income streams through crowdfunding, donations, sustainers, sponsorships, events, and grants. Employees in hybrid commercial-activist projects are paid for their media labor, although some work unpaid overtime. This form of hybrid project requires a careful balance to leverage economic power for the benefit of activist initiatives without getting pulled too far into the corporate world.