New Internationalist: Save our stories

Updated: 1 June 2021

We did it! 1,800 of our co-owners have invested £348,410 (US$493,600) and saved our stories! We’re overwhelmed with the support we've received throughout the campaign. Now we can we can re-imagine the media together.

If you’re just hearing about the share offer for the first time and want to become a co-owner, head to saveourstories.info to find out more.

Join the movement to reimagine the media. Own a piece of us.

New Internationalist is owned by 3,600 readers who share our values. We are a stark contrast to the three billionaire families who control over two-thirds of UK national newspapers. And we’d love you to join us.

Our readers tell us we are their ears and eyes on the world. They read New Internationalist for honest and in-depth international coverage – alongside a vision for change and hope for the future. New Internationalist gives the full story and helps you make up your own mind.

We’ve kept publishing throughout the pandemic but, like many media organizations, our income has taken a battering and we’re going to need a boost to make it through what comes next.

The funds we raise through this share offer will mean we can put our exciting Covid rescue-plan into action and make more of an impact with our journalism.

What's the story?

A golden jubilee is a rare milestone for an independent media outlet. But, as we approach our 50th birthday Covid-19 is leaving a large gap in New Internationalist’s finances. 

When the pandemic hit we were cut off from our most effective way of recruiting new subscribers – face-to-face conversations with would-be readers at festivals, conferences and on university campuses. We need to take urgent action to address the financial impacts.

We aim to raise £350,000 (US$488,300) through this community share offer. This is the amount we need to plug the Covid gap and secure the future of New Internationalist’s unique, solutions-focused journalism.

New Internationalist has been on the right side of history. Help us to stay there.

‘Our media tends to present an extremely narrow view of the world, limited mostly to Ango-American dramas and bourgeois perspectives. Reading NI is like a breath of fresh air, with insights and analysis from across the planet, as well as attention to struggles for global justice. Essential reading’  – Jason Hickel, economic anthropologist

What do I get in return for investing?

When you buy shares in New Internationalist you are supporting media for change.
You become one of our co-owners, charged with keeping us on track and making sure we never stray from the core values that shape our journalism (see the Rules below).

You will join over 3,600 other co-owners in 42 countries and be invited to our annual general meetings and co-owner events. For those who want to be more involved, there is the opportunity to join our Common Council – a small group of co-owners who meet more regularly, acting as an advisory panel and sounding board, help us make decisions and determine our focus.

If you are one of our existing co-owners, you are of course welcome to top up your current investment.

Depending on how much you invest, we have some great rewards to say thank you.

'New Internationalist is uniquely positioned to play a vital role in helping to bring the millions of new, positive, assertive voices, all calling for a just world, together' – Lawrence Sistka, Co-owner of New Internationalist and Common Council member.

Who can buy shares?

Anyone can invest, from anywhere in the world, as long as they are aged 16 or over. Each share costs £1 and the minimum share holding is £50, the maximum is £100,000. A small shareholder will have just as much power as a large one.

‘It’s a rough sea out there when it comes to democracy and freedom. New Internationalist is an extremely important lighthouse. At a time when most publications are owned by corporate media, the state, political parties or religious groups, the need for truly independent media entities that continue to ask the right questions, is essential if we are to find safe mooring. It gives us hope’ – Shahidul Alam, photo journalist and activist

How will the money be used?

The share capital we raise will allow us to strengthen our campaigning journalism, reinvent the way we sell and distribute our magazines and ultimately get subscription numbers to the amount we need to be self-sustaining. This includes taking better care of our customers managing subscriptions ourselves, instead of using an external company.

We’ve also got big plans for our Ethical Shop to build on the increasing demand for online shopping that treads lightly on the planet.

For more detail see our Share Offer and Business Plan below and the New Internationalist Charter [pdf]. There's also more about the back story here on our website.

Read Frequently Asked Questions to find out things like Can I make any money? What’s the worst that can happen? What if we don’t make our target, or exceed it?

You can also get in touch. Please email: [email protected] or call: +44 (0)20 3695 0903.

We are looking forward to writing New Internationalist’s next chapter together. 

Thank you very much!

Co-owners Annie and Israel at an annual general meeting