The Conversation - Help us democratize knowledge

Dear Reader, 

Our team motto is “Democratizing Knowledge.” 

We don’t use it a lot, in part because of the political association that can be inferred by the word “democratizing.” 

But I’ve always appreciated the heart behind the slogan. To democratize knowledge is to spread trustworthy information. To unlock facts and ideas from people who have spent years studying a topic. To move this knowledge out of academic journals. To put it in accessible – but still accurate – language. To bring ideas circulating among the few and make them available to everyone. 

That is how citizens can make informed decisions in the best traditions of our republic. 

This is The Conversation’s expertise. We take an active role in leveling the playing field of information access. No other news outlet conducts this unique collaboration between scholars and editors, producing explanatory journalism anchored in research and expertise, for the benefit of all. 

And it’s working: Our articles were read more than 20 million times last month, reaching more than twice as many readers as we reached before the coronavirus pandemic began.

We depend on civic-minded individuals like you. Will you help us continue to democratize knowledge?