Our Mission
The Conversationalist is an independent nonprofit and feminist publication focused on global perspectives, from the personal to the political Our mission is two-fold: publishing feminist solutions journalism on global affairs and culture, and incubating a community that wants to engage constructively with the media. We seek to change the way people feel after reading the news by prioritizing empathy in our reporting, interrogating the impact of policy on vulnerable people and publishing under-amplified voices. The Conversationalist is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible for journalism, civic engagement and democracy one brave conversation at a time.
Feminist stories. Global Perspectives. Zero BS.
Our History
Founded in 2018, The Conversationalist was born out of the authoritarianism and misogyny proliferating in mainstream media and politics. We saw a lack of transparency, accountability and integrity in coverage of events and were called to challenge the narrative. Obvious connections to the rise of authoritarian regimes and gender-based violence occurring in other parts of the globe were missed or blatantly disregarded by the media. American exceptionalism stood in the way of people understanding the context and history informing the present. In an effort to move past the media’s myopic and sensational approach to news, The Conversationalist began as a platform that amplified the voices of women and people of color with deep insights and creative solutions about our chaotic, interconnected world. We believed, and still do, that people are hungry for thoughtful, engaging journalism that they can trust, a natural response to the proliferation of disinformation, propaganda and equivocation over basic facts and human dignity. Curiosity and empathy thrive when the rage clicks disappear.
Our Values
Community. We believe the media should encourage curiosity, offer nuance, reinforce our dignity and push our capacity for empathy and collective action. Healthy conversation and civic engagement are essential to a functioning democracy. We envision a digital community that enables constructive dialogue and meaningful human connection. This goal and vision set us apart from other media platforms.
Global. We live in an interconnected world where similar obstacles arise across countries and communities. When our news sources are one-dimensional, we disregard the geographic, social and political contexts of other locations and the lessons that come from those experiences. The Conversationalist holds a standard that the newsroom is not complete without considering international events. In order to give our readers holistic context, we seek out and elevate global voices.
Feminist. At its core, feminism is about linking the personal to the political. It is about considering a quality beyond gender, while recognizing humans’ unique experiences with gender. We believe that feminism is for everybody, and that feminist stories are human stories. Our approach to feminist reporting simply involves being considerate, inclusive and intersectional.
Our Content
We provide solutions-oriented analysis of today’s biggest stories through a global and feminist lens, prioritizing empathy and intersectionality, interrogating the impact of policy on vulnerable people and publishing under-amplified voices. Our writers encompass a full spectrum of expert perspectives and are the people who experience first-hand the policies and systems they explore. Instead of chasing clicks, we intentionally publish long-form, investigative pieces each week in pursuit of sharing richer stories that inspire thoughtful and informed conversations. Unbreaking Media, our weekly podcast, examines politics and culture through an intersectional feminist lens. The Conversationalist aims to expand the horizon of what’s possible for journalism and society to de-escalate conflict and create a sustainable alternative.
