rabble.ca
Type of site
News and opinion
Available inEnglish
Headquarters192 Spadina Avenue, Suite 300, Toronto, ON, M5T 2C2[1]
URLrabble.ca
LaunchedApril 18, 2001

rabble.ca is an alternative, left-leaning[2] English-language Canadian online magazine founded in 2001.[3] It features podcasts, videos and a discussion board called babble.[4]

History

Judy Rebick and Mark Surman[5] founded rabble.ca on April 18, 2001.[6] The launch coincided with the Summit of the Americas in Quebec,[3] and rabble covered the Summit during its first week of operation.[7]

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 his release.[8]

Upon its launch, the website raised $200,000, which included $120,000 from the Atkinson Foundation.[9]

On September 7, 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.[10]

Contributors

Judy Rebick, Naomi Klein, Francine Pelletier, Anna Dashtgard, Patty Barrera, Priscilla Settee, Penney Kome, Doris Anderson, Ann Shin and Sandra DeLaronde were among the original contributors at the launch of the website.[11]

Judy Rebick retired in 2006 and was replaced by Amnesty International member Kim Elliott.[12]

Former Financial Post columnist Murray Dobbin is the guest senior contributing editor for rabble.ca.[13]

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 of the Toronto Star praised Rabble for its use of the Internet to propel activism,[6] while journalist Colby Cosh dismissed it as "a hobby for Judy Rebick [...] on the Canadian left" and a "vanity web project".[14]

References

  1. ^ "Contact". Rabble. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
  2. ^ Taras, David (January 26, 2015). Digital Mosaic: Media, Power, and Identity in Canada. University of Toronto Press. p. 268. ISBN 978-1-4426-0889-4.
  3. ^ a b Landsberg, Michele (April 14, 2001). "Rabble.ca may rouse us from torpor". Toronto Star. ISSN 0319-0781. ProQuest 438275106.
  4. ^ "Canadians to clear up health care myths for Americans; rabble.ca posts U.S. health care page debunking myths and posting health care testimonials". Fox Creek Times. September 16, 2009. ProQuest 442600650.
  5. ^ "Everything on (the) Line". btlbooks.com. Retrieved May 25, 2021.
  6. ^ a b Rempel, Shauna (August 9, 2007). "Fostering political activism; The Internet is now the new launchpad for social mobilization". Toronto Star. ISSN 0319-0781. ProQuest 439281078.
  7. ^ Reith, Bill (2001). "Review of rabble.ca". Education Forum. 27 (2): 33. ProQuest 204987830.
  8. ^ Canadian Press (May 8, 2001). "Summit protester Jaggi Singh granted release". Sault Star. ProQuest 348424159.
  9. ^ Kuitenbrouwer, Peter (April 19, 2001). "Rabble-rouser: Publisher Judy Rebick's new online magazine offers a forum for leftist thinkers and those descending on Quebec this week". National Post. ISSN 1486-8008. ProQuest 329820754.
  10. ^ "Diverse voices across Canada featured in new federal election blog on rabble.ca". Canada NewsWire. September 8, 2008. ProQuest 453112672.
  11. ^ "Ready for the rabble". Canada NewsWire. April 17, 2001. ProQuest 454516528.
  12. ^ Zerbisias, Antonia (May 6, 2009). "Women on top of anti-war wave". Toronto Star. ISSN 0319-0781. ProQuest 439565062.
  13. ^ Boesveld, Sarah (May 4, 2011). "Blue but not Tory; Left lets loose with vitriolic rants online". National Post. ProQuest 865220029.
  14. ^ Cosh, Colby (April 15, 2002). "Don't get left behind". Report Newsmagazine. ProQuest 214877120.

External links

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