Exciting plans afoot ...

Over the last few months, we've left hints here and there about the exciting plans we have in store for Facing South and the Institute's media program.

The Institute has been publishing independent, progressive media since 1973, when we launched Southern Exposure, our flagship quarterly magazine. Over the years, SE has won the most prestigious awards in journalism and had a big impact on the debate around Southern politics, history and culture -- challenging stereotypes and offering an exciting vision for the South's future.

After the 2000 election debacle, we launched an e-newsletter (which now has 8,000 subscribers) and in 2005 we kicked off this blog, which has drawn up to 3,500 visitors a day and received lots of attention on issues like Hurricane Katrina and the fate of the Gulf Coast.

But we need to do more. The South needs an even more powerful voice to cover the under-reported stories, to break the stranglehold on diverse viewpoints and reveal the surging new energy for change in the South. We need more hard-hitting investigative reporting, more fresh voices, and more tools for action.

In short, the South needs independent media it can call its own. For example, a quick look at the list of excellent contributors to DailyKos reveals that not one editor there is Southern. Most of the other independent and progressive outlets -- online and in print -- suffer from a severe shortage of Southern coverage and voices.

Maybe that's why the prevailing punditry about the South is so off base? (With some encouraging exceptions.)

In the next few months, we plan to unveil a new online voice for the South. This exciting new project aims to combine credible "old school" investigative reporting with exciting "new media" tools to influence the fast-moving public debate. The new multi-media project will deliver a diverse range of compelling Southern voices, and highlight the innovative, amazing work happening everywhere for a better South.

What do you think? What's being left out of the media and political debate about the South? How can change the discussion? We'd love to hear what you think -- it's your energy and ideas that will make this new plan a success.

Stay tuned ... you'll be hearing more soon about our new voice for the South.