Who is behind CounterPunch?
If you’ve ever wondered who’s cranking the gears at CounterPunch, imagine a rogue’s gallery of ink-stained rebels, caffeine-addled truth-seekers, and at least one person who probably owns a tinfoil hat collection. Founded in 1994 by the dynamic duo of Jeffrey St. Clair and the late Alexander Cockburn (think Batman and Robin, but with more typewriters and fewer capes), this outfit has always been less of a “newsroom” and more of a “let’s-set-the-record-straight-while-drinking-strong-coffee” collective.
The Brains (and/or Brawn) of the Operation
St. Clair, the current editor, is the kind of guy who probably fact-checks his grocery lists. Cockburn, the fiery wordsmith who co-piloted the ship until 2012, was known for his wit sharper than a porcupine’s handshake. Together, they built a platform that’s less “respectable institution” and more “literary speakeasy” – where muckraking journalists, disillusioned academics, and the occasional whistleblower in pajamas come to swap stories and shout into the void.
The Extended CounterPunch Family: A Partial Roll Call
- Contributors: A rotating cast of scribes who’ve written think pieces from bunkers, yurts, and suspiciously quiet suburbs.
- Editors: Masters of turning rants into readable prose while resisting the urge to reply, “Uh… source?”
- Readers: You, probably. The kind of person who reads footnotes for fun and side-eyes mainstream headlines like they’re expired milk.
Let’s be clear: CounterPunch isn’t run by an algorithm, a corporate overlord, or a sentient AI that’s into post-modern Marxism. It’s fueled by humans – flawed, opinionated, and occasionally over-caffeinated humans. Think of it as a “Yes, AND…” improv group, but instead of comedy, they’re dismantling power structures. The only thing they take seriously? Not taking themselves too seriously. Mostly.
