Z Communications is a self-described journalism-intensive media group, founded in 1987 by Michael Albert and Lydia Sargent. Its publications include Z Magazine, ZNet, Z Media, and Z Video and are generally of a radical-left perspective.

Z Communications is based outside Woods Hole, Massachusetts. Regular contributors to its publications include Uri Avnery, Noam Chomsky, Alexander Cockburn, Tim Wise, Amira Hass, Norman Solomon, Robert Fisk, John Pilger, Howard Zinn, Edward S. Herman, Anthony Arnove, Joshua Frank, Eleanor Bader, Barbara Ehrenreich, Bashir Abu-Manneh and "Mickey Z".

Publications and organizations

Z Magazine

Z Magazine (formerly Zeta) was founded in 1987 by two of the co-founders of South End Press, Michael Albert and Lydia Sargent. It is an independent monthly magazine focusing on political, cultural, social, and economic life in the United States. It is published in print and on-line The print magazine is most often sixty-four pages, with articles of many lengths and focuses. The on-line magazine, updated monthly, reproduces the print as closely as possible and has two versions—one public (an archive), and the other for subscribers only. The latter appears simultaneously with the print version. The former appears a few months later.

Z Net

Founded in 1995, Z Net is a large website updated many times daily to "convey information and provide community," generally focusing on politics from a left-wing perspective. It claims a readership of over a quarter of a million people a week, and features diverse "watch" context focus on hot-topic issues, sub-sites, translations, archives, links to other progressive sites, and a daily commentary program. The website was featured in the movie Shooter starring Mark Wahlberg.

The site offers a comprehensive archive of Noam Chomsky's online materials for its users.

Z Media Institute

Founded in 1994, Z Media Institute provides classes and other sessions in how to start and produce alternative media, how to understand mainstream and alternative media better, how to enhance organising skills and knowledge, and how to better comprehend and develop radical theory, strategy, and vision.

Z Video

Founded in 1998, Z Video produces videos about politics, economics, foreign policy, and the world social forum.

Notable contributors

Z-net has had some notable contributors, including:

• Fidel Castro, President of Cuba
• Desmond Tutu, 1984 Nobel Peace Prize winner
• Hugo Chavez, President of Venezuela
• Noam Chomsky, world-renowned intellectual at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

See also

• Alternative press (U.S. political left)
• UK Watch
• Political Cinema

External links

• Z Communications
• Z Magazine
• Z Blogs