rabble.ca is an alternative Canadian online magazine founded in 2001. rabble.ca works in partnership with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives (CCPA) and the Centre for Social Justice. Rabble.ca features podcasts, videos and a discussion board called babble.
History
Judy Rebick founded rabble.ca on 18 April 2001. The launch coincided with the Summit of the Americas in Quebec. This was the first event which rabble covered and its reporting style established a pro-activist setting for future writing.
Anti-globalization activist Jaggi Singh became one of the website's most active contributors. Due to Jaggi Singh's participation in protests at the Summit of the Americas, Singh was jailed for offences including possession of a weapon. Rabble, along with other left-wing organisations and activists, wrote an open letter calling for her release.
Upon its launch, the website, rabble.ca, raised $200,000, which included $120,000 from the Atkinson Foundation.
On 7 September 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.
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The Council of Canadians is a non-profit organization that advocates for clean water, fair trade, green energy, public health care, and a vibrant democracy. The organization is headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario with regional offices in Halifax, Toronto, Edmonton and Vancouver and a network of local chapters across the country.
While primarily focused on national issues, the Council of Canadians also does international work through its Blue Planet Project, which focuses on the implementation of the human right to water and sanitation. ...
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The Rideau Institute is a non-profit independent research and advocacy group based in Ottawa. It focusses on foreign policy and defence policy issues. The Rideau Institute was founded in January 2007. and is based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. ...
Content
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rabble.ca is split into several sections -- Rabble; Babble; Blogs; Issues; Podcasts; Toolkit; RabbleTV; In Cahoots; and, COVID-19.
Rabble covers a range of issues including feminism, the Gaza conflict and Canadian politics in general. "In Cahoots" is a feature on the website which highlights issues raised by rabble's partner organisations on topics such as social justice and labor organizations.
The Babble section of the website is based entirely on user input and is essentially a forum for its readers. Users are encouraged to discuss the features and columns read on the website, as well as write their own articles.
Finances
Rabble's content is free and it is funded by advertising, donations, subscriptions and partner foundations.
In 2002, rabble appealed to its readers for a proposed donation of $20 a month to expand the website. Rabble releases an annual finances report which lists its donors. According to the 2010 report, the website had 900 members and 200 one-time donors.
Contributors
Judy Rebick, Naomi Klein, Francine Pelletier, Anna Dashtgard, Patty Barrera, Priscilla Settee, and Sandra DeLaronde were among the original contributors at the launch of the website.
Judy Rebick retired in 2006 and was replaced by Amnesty International member Kim Elliott.
Former Financial Post columnist Murray Dobbin is the guest senior contributing editor for rabble.ca.
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 praised rabble for its use of the Internet to propel activism, while fellow commentator Colby Cosh as "a hobby for Judy Rebick ... on the Canadian left" and a "vanity web project."
Additional Reading
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