The Guardian has announced the launch of a significant new editorial project named 'Building Power', designed to intensify and expand its reporting on progressive movements, organising, and systemic change across the United States and globally.
A New Editorial Chapter for Progressive Coverage
This ambitious initiative represents a strategic investment in a specific strand of journalism that examines how communities and campaigns build collective influence. The project will move beyond merely reporting on political outcomes to scrutinise the often unseen work of organising, coalition-building, and long-term strategy that underpins social and political shifts.
Leading this venture is Anna Holmes, a highly respected journalist and editor with a formidable track record. Holmes, the founding editor of Jezebel and former editor at The New York Times and The Washington Post, will serve as the editor of Building Power. Her appointment signals the organisation's commitment to delivering incisive, authoritative coverage in this domain.
Scope and Ambition of the Project
The Building Power team will operate as a dedicated unit within Guardian US, producing a steady stream of original reporting, investigations, and analysis. The coverage will span a wide range of critical issues, including but not limited to labour rights, climate justice, racial equity, economic inequality, and democratic engagement.
The core mission is to provide readers with an in-depth understanding of the tactics, challenges, and personalities driving efforts to transform society. This means going behind the headlines of protests and policy debates to explore the grassroots machinery that makes change possible—or that struggles against powerful headwinds.
The initiative officially launched on December 2, 2024, marking a new chapter for The Guardian's US operations. It builds upon the outlet's long-standing reputation for progressive-minded journalism and its substantial investment in its American digital presence over recent years.
Implications for Readers and the Media Landscape
For readers, Building Power promises a richer, more nuanced perspective on some of the most pressing issues of our time. It aims to connect the dots between local activism and national trends, offering stories of resilience, strategy, and the hard graft of social change that often escape traditional news cycles.
Within the media landscape, the launch underscores a growing recognition of the demand for journalism that critically engages with power structures—not just who holds power, but how it is contested, assembled, and wielded from the ground up. The Guardian's dedicated focus on this area sets it apart in a competitive field.
By establishing a standalone project under seasoned editorial leadership, The Guardian is institutionalising this focus, ensuring it receives sustained resources and prominence. This move is likely to shape the narrative around progressive politics and organising in the lead-up to and beyond the next US electoral cycle, while also examining global parallels and connections.
