United KingdomOwnership & classification
Founded: 2011
Ownership
Novara Media is a British left-wing alternative outlet founded in 2011 by Aaron Bastani and James Butler, starting as a radio programme on Resonance FM. Since 1 February 2019 it has operated as a trading name of Thousand Hands Ltd, a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales (No. 11245029). It has no corporate proprietor or shareholders extracting profit; the company states all revenue is reinvested into its journalism.
Funding
Funded almost entirely by readers'/viewers' small recurring donations (it passed 10,000 monthly donors in 2022) with no paywall, plus minor income from merchandise, event tickets, YouTube advertising and superchats, and occasional project grants. It is a partner of the left-leaning cooperative The Media Fund.
Affiliation & stance
Novara is openly socialist/left-wing in editorial stance and was closely associated with the Corbyn-era Labour left, but it is not owned or directed by any party, union, state body or oligarch; its donor-funded not-for-profit structure keeps it editorially independent of outside controllers. It is therefore INDEPENDENT (matching the site's INDEPENDENT/LEFT guess).
Editorial lean
- Our estimate
- Progressive
- Measured from coverage
- Lean Progressivebased on 84
75/100
Factual
63/100
Objective
86
Articles
86
reports
Factual: How accurately its articles report the facts, judged against primary sources and the cross-outlet consensus. Only articles that cite their sources are counted.
Objective: How neutral the writing is — whether reporting keeps the writer’s own preferences and opinions out of the article.
Recent coverage
Revealed: New UK Datacentre’s Massive Carbon Footprint
The article discusses the announcement by Havering Council of plans to construct the UK's largest data centre, highlighting concerns about its significant carbon footprint. This comes amid recent heatwaves and the anticipated arrival of El Niño, which could exacerbate environmental challenges. The piece also mentions interviews with authors of a book examining Israel's lobbying efforts and includes a segment where Greenpeace criticizes Andy Burnham with a 'scorched earth' message. Additional contributors include Steven Methven, Eli Clifton, and Ian Lustick.
Jury Refuses to Convict Palestine Action Activists
A jury in England refused to convict seven members of the Palestine Action group involved in a 2024 raid on an Israeli arms factory operated by Elbit Systems. The defendants, known as the Filton 25, faced charges of criminal damage and violent disorder related to infiltrating the facility in South Gloucestershire. After over 37 hours of deliberation, jurors could not reach verdicts for seven of the eight defendants, with one individual found guilty of criminal damage. None of the accused were present at the factory during the break-in, and the prosecution provided insufficient evidence against several defendants. The defense argued that the charges were politically motivated, citing prior pretrial detention and the broader context of the group's activism against Israeli military actions. The outcome highlights ongoing tensions between activist groups and law enforcement regarding acts of civil disobedience targeting perceived human rights violations.
Israeli Soldiers Mark Palestinian Captives With Numbers
Israeli soldiers marked Palestinian detainees with numbers on their foreheads during a raid in Qabatiya, West Bank, on August 17, according to reports. The practice, described as brutal and dehumanizing, involved rounding up dozens of Palestinians at dawn, binding them, and interrogating them for up to ten hours. Detainee Ahmad al-Hathnawi described the experience, noting it was the first time soldiers had marked him with a number. Similar incidents have occurred previously, including marking women in Jenin and men in Dura. The Israeli military acknowledged the actions but stated lessons were learned. The treatment has drawn comparisons to Nazi practices during the Holocaust, amid ongoing tensions and increased violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
Hidden AirTag Exposes Amazon Destroying Rare Books in Bulk to Train AI
Investigative journalists from 404 Media discovered that Amazon is purchasing and destroying rare books in bulk to train its AI models. They placed a tracking device in a book, which led to an Amazon AI training facility in Las Vegas. At the facility, books have their spines removed for page scanning before being discarded. The facility's signage features a dinosaur seemingly devouring a book. AI companies like Anthropic are acquiring large quantities of older books because they are assured to be human-authored, reducing the risk of AI-generated content contaminating training data. Amazon stated it buys books through commercial channels to enhance its products and services.
Revealed: The Chart-Topping Music Producer and Animator Behind a Far-Right AI Rapper
An investigative report reveals the identities of the creators behind an AI-generated far-right rapper named Danny Bones, who promotes anti-immigration sentiments. The AI character, featured in music videos depicting scenes like a deportation van speeding through London and a civil war against the 'Islamist Front,' is part of a project called the Node Project. The project is linked to Denver Bamber, a music producer with ties to far-right groups, and Theo Blackledge, a 3D artist and animator. Both have confirmed they founded the Node Project and created Danny Bones as an artistic endeavor. Bamber emphasized that they are open about their involvement, stating that Danny Bones represents ideas many Britons relate to. The report highlights concerns over the potential influence of such AI content on public discourse.
Israel Is Trying to Game ChatGPT Results About Gaza and the IDF
An investigative report reveals that Israel is allegedly using a coordinated strategy to influence how large language models like ChatGPT respond to queries about Gaza, the IDF, and Zionism. Over 100 anonymized articles, framed as potential user questions, were published on the Hanover Institute for Public Policy website, which is linked to Israeli government-backed PR firms. These articles aim to shape narratives around topics such as who is the aggressor in the conflict, whether Hamas accounts for its own casualties, and if the IDF is the world's most moral army. The initiative appears to be part of a $100,000 campaign to disseminate 'factual' information about Israel. While some AI platforms like ChatGPT and Claude do not cite Hanover as a source, Perplexity does rely on their content. The report highlights concerns over the manipulation of AI training data to promote specific viewpoints.
IDF Opens Criminal Investigation Into Murder of Hind Rajab
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have initiated a criminal investigation into the 2025 murder of five-year-old Hind Rajab, her family, and 15 other Palestinians in Gaza. The incident occurred during ongoing tensions in the region, and the IDF's decision marks a significant development in the handling of such cases. The article also mentions related topics, including British politician Ed Milliband's stance on West Bank settlements and a discussion about the United Arab Emirates being labeled as a 'rogue actor' by some analysts. These additional points suggest broader geopolitical discussions surrounding Israel and its neighbors.
Israel Finally Admits Responsibility for Killing Five-Year-Old Hind Rajab
The Israeli military has acknowledged firing on the vehicle carrying five-year-old Hind Rajab and her family during an attack in Gaza City on 29 January 2024, leading to their deaths. This admission comes nearly a year after the incident and follows extensive international investigations by outlets like the Washington Post and Sky News, which confirmed that Israeli forces targeted the group while they were fleeing. The bodies were not recovered until February 2023, after Israeli forces withdrew. Rajab's case gained global attention through a widely shared phone call she made before her death and was featured in an Oscar-nominated documentary. A UN commission of inquiry linked her killing to potential Israeli war crimes. Despite this acknowledgment, advocacy groups remain skeptical of Israel's commitment to justice, citing a lack of convictions in past cases involving Palestinian fatalities.
US Immigration Agents Caught Spying on Leftwing Activists
A report by the New York Times reveals that U.S. Homeland Security agents conducted a broad surveillance campaign targeting leftwing groups such as labor unions, climate organizations, and socialist collectives. This operation, dubbed 'Operation Puppet Master,' began shortly after the January 2026 shooting of nurse Alex Pretti by ICE agents during protests against Trump's immigration policies. Undercover agents infiltrated activist events and obtained three years of financial records from several groups, including the Sunrise Movement and the Communication Workers of America. While none of the targeted organizations faced criminal charges, 15 individuals were prosecuted for allegedly obstructing immigration officers. Court documents show these covert activities continued after the Minnesota immigration crackdown ended. A defense attorney argued that the Trump administration's dehumanizing rhetoric toward leftwing activists fueled these politically motivated investigations.
Israeli Minister Calls for Military to Kill 30 to 40 Palestinians a Night
Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has stated during a podcast interview that security forces should kill between 30 and 40 Palestinians every night in Gaza, calling some individuals 'not worthy of life.' The remarks were made during an episode of a podcast hosted by former Israeli soldier Rom Braslavski, who was held captive by Hamas. Braslavski requested permission to personally execute Palestinian captives, to which Ben-Gvir responded with strong support. Ben-Gvir has previously advocated for full occupation of Gaza and mass expulsion of Palestinians, while opposing peace agreements. His influence within the government could shape Israel's approach to the conflict, especially as Prime Minister Netanyahu faces pressure to take a harder line ahead of upcoming elections.
Over 200 Musicians Tell Andy Burnham to Block Rosebank Oil Drilling
Over 200 musicians, including Brian Eno, Massive Attack, and members of Radiohead, have urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to oppose the Rosebank oil drilling project in the North Sea. They argue that the project will not reduce household energy costs or enhance energy security, as much of the extracted oil would be exported. The letter highlights concerns about the climate impact, noting that the Rosebank field could generate 250 million tonnes of CO2 over its lifespan, approximately 70% of the UK's annual emissions. The artists emphasize that the decision on Rosebank will define Burnham's climate legacy, citing the increasing effects of extreme weather such as heatwaves, which have caused thousands of deaths and record hospital admissions. While Burnham previously supported the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty during his time as mayor of Greater Manchester, he now advocates for a 'pragmatic' approach to oil and gas drilling.
Cambridge to investigate Jason Arday appointment after ex-professor quit over plagiarism row
The University of Cambridge has announced it will investigate the appointment of Professor Jason Arday, a sociology of education professor who recently resigned amid allegations of plagiarism related to his PhD thesis. Arday, who became Cambridge's youngest Black professor in 2023, stepped down after media reports suggested he plagiarized his thesis completed at Liverpool John Moores University. While an initial inquiry into his academic credentials and appointments was already underway, the university will now examine the circumstances of his 2022 appointment by the Faculty of Education and his tenure at Cambridge. Vice-chancellor Deborah Prentice called the case an 'aberration' and emphasized that the findings will influence future recruitment practices for senior academic roles. She also reiterated that staff of color are valued at the university. Meanwhile, some media outlets have questioned other claims made by Arday, including his assertion of running 600 miles in six days and raising £5.5 million for charity. Although an investigation at Liverpool John Moores University cleared him of wrongdoing, Durham and Glasgow universities are also reviewing his appointment history, and
Andy Burnham to chair emergency Cobra meeting amid extreme heat
Andy Burnham, the mayor of Greater Manchester, will chair an emergency Cobra meeting to address the impact of extreme heat in the UK, which has led to wildfires and severe drought conditions. The meeting follows recent high temperatures, with forecasts predicting up to 38°C on Thursday. This will be the second Cobra meeting this year related to heatwaves, as the UK experiences its fifth heatwave of the summer. The Met Office reports that the number of days exceeding 30°C has already surpassed previous records. The government acknowledges the strain on firefighters, farmers, and NHS staff due to the extreme weather. Green Party leader Zack Polanski called for urgent action, including measures like taxing fossil fuel companies and implementing cooling spaces. The government has issued amber 'extreme heat' warnings for several regions and urged the public to stay hydrated and look out for vulnerable individuals.