What is Public Enlightenment?

Hi, I’m Brian Hansbury. I’m a media reform activist and a Co-founder of the Media and Democracy Project (MAD). MAD has spent the last couple of years taking on disinformers like Rupert Murdoch, exposing crass lobbying on behalf of the telecom industry by former lawmakers, and helping people find and support high quality local journalism in the public interest.

Public Enlightenment is a place for me to continue working towards a better informed electorate by helping people improve their information diets and media literacy skills.

Healthy information is fact-based journalism in the public interest that provides essential context about what’s at stake for communities while maintaining transparency about its values and funding.

Here I will endeavor to share information about high quality sources of news and how we can create more of them, expose grifters who practice “journalism” and punditry on behalf of billionaire agendas, and generally help us all navigate an American information ecosystem that has been polluted by powerful figures who want us to lose faith in journalism’s essential watchdog role.

I am a partisan for truth (as it accords with fact) and democracy. If that sounds like you, too, welcome.

Why subscribe?

Subscribe to help spread the word about Public Enlightenment. As a free subscriber, you’ll get full access to the newsletter and publication archives. Paid subscribers help me to continue to be able to do this work.

Stay up-to-date

Never miss an update—every new post is sent directly to your email inbox. For a spam-free, ad-free reading experience, plus audio and community features, get the Substack app.

Join the crew

Be part of a community of people who share your interests. Participate in the comments section and get active in the chat!

Subscribe to Public Enlightenment

"Public enlightenment is the forerunner of justice and the foundation of democracy." I write about our information ecosystem, who funds RW disinformers, and ways to find fact-based news in the pursuit of a healthier, happier, safer American future.

People

Writing about our information ecosystem and how we can make it better for everyone.