About us

Our mission.

To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good.

Who we are.

Founded in 1997, Common Dreams is a reader-supported, independent news outlet created as a new model for media. We are a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization committed to delivering free, accessible journalism that keeps millions of readers informed, engaged, and motivated.

We are optimists. We believe meaningful change is possible—but only when well-informed, well-intentioned, and determined people demand it. Together, we believe we can achieve our common dreams.

What we value.

We share our readers’ progressive commitments to social justice, human rights, equality, and peace. Beyond serving as a trusted news source, Common Dreams encourages critical thinking and civic engagement on a wide range of social, economic, and civil rights issues affecting individuals and their communities.

What we do.

The Common Dreams newsroom delivers honest, independent reporting you can rely on—every day. We publish a wide range of breaking news, original commentary, videos, and press releases focused on the issues that matter most to progressives worldwide.

All of this content is presented in a single, easy-to-navigate online space, free from advertising and gimmicks. We provide a vital alternative to commercial media, ensuring that urgent issues of today—and hopeful ideas for the future—are not overlooked.

Editorial independence.

Our readers power our work. To protect our editorial integrity, Common Dreams accepts no corporate or government funding and carries no advertising. For more than two decades, hundreds of thousands of small donations have sustained our journalism. Those contributions never influence our editorial judgment or principles.

Our community.

We are hundreds of thousands strong—writers, activists, and everyday people who believe a better world is possible. Our readers form a vibrant community of thinkers and doers committed to change.

Our journalism is free and accessible to all, made possible by the support of readers like you. If you believe in the power of independent media to drive progress, we invite you to support our work by making a one-time or monthly donation.