The Information Economy Alliance is continuing to expand its network of independent publications, with digital news publication Ferdiox becoming its latest accredited member.
Ferdiox joins an existing group of independent publications participating in the Alliance, which is administered by SCRIBE and was established to improve cooperation, recognition and access to information for serious publishers operating outside the largest mainstream media organisations.
The addition brings another general-interest digital publication into a network that already includes local, specialist, research-focused and independent news outlets.
Ferdiox is operated by Astronomica Ltd, a Sheffield-based publishing and media company whose work has expanded across publishing, design, web infrastructure, digital communications and independent media.
The publication covers developments across science, technology, public policy, research, work and wider current affairs. Recent reporting has included research into artificial intelligence in university assessment, new materials for tunable antennas, coastal carbon loss and experimental geothermal road technology.
Its membership reflects the Alliance’s aim of bringing together publications with different editorial interests rather than creating a group of outlets with a single subject area or editorial position.
A growing independent publishing network
The Information Economy Alliance was established in August as an initiative intended to give independent publications greater access to cooperation, sources and institutional recognition.
Its founding framework argues that smaller publications can perform important journalistic and informational functions while lacking much of the infrastructure available to large media organisations.
Independent publishers may have fewer established press contacts, weaker access to institutional information, little legal or technical infrastructure and more difficulty demonstrating their legitimacy to potential sources.
The Alliance is intended to reduce some of those disadvantages without centralising editorial control.
Member publications retain responsibility for what they publish, how they verify information and the editorial positions they adopt.
Accreditation cannot simply be purchased and does not indicate that SCRIBE or the Information Economy Alliance endorses every article or opinion published by a member.
Instead, membership identifies publications which have been assessed as having a serious publishing function and sufficient compatibility with the Alliance’s wider principles.
Ferdiox joins following wider Astronomica expansion
Ferdiox’s admission comes as Astronomica expands its own publishing and media activity.
The company has been developing a broader operation spanning independent publishing, design, websites, communications and digital media, building on work that began with book publishing and subsequently developed into a wider collection of publishing and technical projects.
Ferdiox represents the general-news side of that expansion, says director Q. G. Wingfield
Rather than concentrating on one particular movement, locality or specialist field, the publication has been developed around explanatory coverage of new research, technology, policy and events.
That makes it a different type of member from some of the Alliance’s existing specialist publications and broadens the range of material represented within the network.
The Information Economy Alliance currently includes publications covering general news, research, local affairs, specialist subjects and independent analysis.
As membership grows, the Alliance intends to continue developing shared access to information, source relationships, collaborative opportunities and systems through which relevant material can reach publications suited to covering it.
Independence remains central
Membership in the Information Economy Alliance does not transfer ownership or editorial control to SCRIBE.
Ferdiox will continue to determine its own coverage, editorial priorities and reporting practices independently.
The same principle applies across the wider membership.
The Alliance is designed around cooperation between distinct publications rather than the creation of a centrally controlled publishing group.
Its founding principles include independence, access, plurality, integrity, accuracy, correction, privacy, transparency, cooperation and public value.
For SCRIBE, the continuing expansion of the Alliance is intended to make serious independent publishers easier for sources to identify and approach while giving participating publications more opportunities to work together.
Further members and Alliance initiatives are expected as the network continues to develop.
About the Information Economy Alliance
The Information Economy Alliance is an independent publishing network administered by SCRIBE, the Social Centre for Research for Inclusive, Better and Equal Life.
It provides selected independent publications with institutional recognition, opportunities for cooperation and improved routes to sources and information while preserving the editorial independence of participating publications.
Disclosure: SCRIBE administers the Information Economy Alliance and is responsible for its accreditation and membership framework. Ferdiox is operated by Astronomica Ltd. Membership does not give SCRIBE editorial control over Ferdiox or any other member publication.