Independent Weekly
Encyclopedia
The Independent Weekly is a tabloid-format alternative weekly
newspaper published in Durham, North Carolina
, United States
and distributed throughout the Research Triangle area (Raleigh
, Durham
, Chapel Hill
, and Cary
) and counties (Wake County
, Durham County
, Orange County
, and Chatham County
).
The Independent is a member of the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies
and has a progressive
, liberal
political perspective. Its first issue was published in April 1983. In September 2002, it acquired the area's other major weekly, Spectator, which was based in Raleigh
and was well-known for its coverage of the arts
; the name lives on as the name of the Independent's calendar of events.
Among alternative weeklies, the Independent Weekly has a national reputation for investigative and enterprise journalism. The Columbia Journalism Review
has cited the newspaper for its "spine of steel."
In 2010, the Independent presented the inaugural Hopscotch Music Festival
in downtown Raleigh
. The three-day annual event happens in September and features local, national and international bands in just about every genre.
Alternative weekly
An alternative newspaper is a type of newspaper, that eschews comprehensive coverage of general news in favor of stylized reporting, opinionated reviews and columns, investigations into edgy topics and magazine-style feature stories highlighting local people and culture. Their news coverage is more...
newspaper published in Durham, North Carolina
Durham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and distributed throughout the Research Triangle area (Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
, Durham
Durham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
, Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Chapel Hill is a town in Orange County, North Carolina, United States and the home of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and UNC Health Care...
, and Cary
Cary, North Carolina
Cary is a large town and suburb of Raleigh, North Carolina in Wake and Chatham counties in the U.S. state of North Carolina. Located almost entirely in Wake County, it is the second largest municipality in that county and the third largest municipality in The Triangle after Raleigh and Durham...
) and counties (Wake County
Wake County, North Carolina
Wake County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 900,993 making it North Carolina's second most populated county...
, Durham County
Durham County, North Carolina
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 223,314 people, 89,015 households, and 54,032 families residing in the county. The population density was 769 people per square mile . There were 95,452 housing units at an average density of 329 per square mile...
, Orange County
Orange County, North Carolina
Orange County is a county located in the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of the 2010 census, the population was 133,801. Its county seat is Hillsborough...
, and Chatham County
Chatham County, North Carolina
Chatham County is a county located in the Piedmont area of the U.S. state of North Carolina. As of 2000, the population was 49,329. Its county seat is Pittsboro.-History:...
).
The Independent is a member of the Association of Alternative Newsweeklies
Association of Alternative Newsweeklies
The Association of Alternative Newsmedia is a diverse group of covering every major metropolitan area and other less-populated regions of North America. AAN members have a combined weekly circulation of over 6.5 million as well as a print readership of nearly 17 million active, educated and...
and has a progressive
Progressivism
Progressivism is an umbrella term for a political ideology advocating or favoring social, political, and economic reform or changes. Progressivism is often viewed by some conservatives, constitutionalists, and libertarians to be in opposition to conservative or reactionary ideologies.The...
, liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
political perspective. Its first issue was published in April 1983. In September 2002, it acquired the area's other major weekly, Spectator, which was based in Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
and was well-known for its coverage of the arts
The arts
The arts are a vast subdivision of culture, composed of many creative endeavors and disciplines. It is a broader term than "art", which as a description of a field usually means only the visual arts. The arts encompass visual arts, literary arts and the performing arts – music, theatre, dance and...
; the name lives on as the name of the Independent's calendar of events.
Among alternative weeklies, the Independent Weekly has a national reputation for investigative and enterprise journalism. The Columbia Journalism Review
Columbia Journalism Review
The Columbia Journalism Review is an American magazine for professional journalists published bimonthly by the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism since 1961....
has cited the newspaper for its "spine of steel."
In 2010, the Independent presented the inaugural Hopscotch Music Festival
Hopscotch Music Festival
Hopscotch Music Festival is an annual music festival in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, United States. It is presented by the Independent Weekly, a locally owned alternative weekly newspaper and media company, and takes place the second Thursday through Saturday in September.- Overview :Hopscotch...
in downtown Raleigh
Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh is the capital and the second largest city in the state of North Carolina as well as the seat of Wake County. Raleigh is known as the "City of Oaks" for its many oak trees. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the city's 2010 population was 403,892, over an area of , making Raleigh...
. The three-day annual event happens in September and features local, national and international bands in just about every genre.