We are a borderless, largely volunteer community that verifies and translates trending news and stories you might be missing on the Internet, from blogs, independent press and social media around the world.

Need to know more? You might find some answers in our frequently asked questions below.

• You call yourselves “analysts, online media experts and translators”. But who exactly are the members of Global Voices?
• Can I become a volunteer writer or translator for Global Voices?
• You’re completely virtual?! How does that work?
• How is Global Voices funded?
• How did Global Voices get started? How was Harvard involved?
• I have an idea for a story. How can I get in touch with your editorial team?
• I want to re-use your stories. Do you have an attribution policy?
• Why should I trust you guys?
• Who put this awesome site together?

Q: You call yourselves “analysts, online media experts and translators”. But who exactly are the members of Global Voices?
When we aren’t reporting the best of the citizen and social web for you on Global Voices, we’re busy being journalists, politicians, academics, entrepreneurs and activists.

Q: Can I become a volunteer writer or translator for Global Voices?
Are you a keen analyst of social media, independent media or blogs about a region or country that is largely ignored or misrepresented by traditional media? If yes, apply to join our incredible volunteer team of contributors by filling out this form.

Our stories are translated into dozens of languages, including Spanish, Chinese, French, and Arabic. If you are multilingual and would like to join our impressive team of translators, learn how to apply.

Q: You’re completely virtual?! How does that work?
We don’t have a physical office, but work as a virtual community across multiple time zones, often from our homes, cafés or public libraries.

We meet in-person during our biannual Summits, and many of us find excuses to travel and meet Global Voices colleagues across the world. We are a community of curious and thrifty travelers who tend to keep our couches reserved for fellow Global Voices members.

Q: How is Global Voices funded?
Global Voices is incorporated in the Netherlands as Stichting Global Voices, a nonprofit foundation. To cover our costs, we rely on grants, sponsorships, editorial commissions, and donations from people like you. For details, check out our annual reports, and read about our fundraising ethics here.

Q: How did Global Voices get started? How was Harvard involved?
Global Voices was founded in 2005 by former CNN Beijing and Tokyo Bureau Chief Rebecca MacKinnon, and technologist and Africa expert Ethan Zuckerman, while they were both fellows at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard University.

The idea for the project grew out of an international bloggers’ meeting held at Harvard in December 2004 and it began as a simple blog and a manifesto statement. (Here's a written report and podcast of that meeting). Global Voices quickly expanded thanks to the patronage of the Berkman Center, support from Reuters, the MacArthur Foundation, and the energy and creativity of our contributors.

Q: I have an idea for a story. How can I get in touch with your editorial team?
Our regional and language editors always welcome suggestions and story ideas. Our focus is citizen media from regions or countries that are scarcely mentioned in international media – or marginalized voices from any country. To reach an editor, just select a region in our contact form and send them an email.

Q: I want to re-use your stories. Do you have an attribution policy?
Our content is licensed as Creative Commons Attribution to ensure that the stories we share are disseminated as widely as possible. Re-publishing our stories is allowed as long as you follow our attribution policy by crediting us and linking back to the original. Details here.

Q: Why should I trust you guys?
Our authors are experts in the areas they write about and every story published on Global Voices is vetted by members of our impressive editorial team. We follow a rigorous editorial code inspired by the Society of Professional Journalists.

Q: Who put this awesome site together?
Originally a quick WordPress install on a shared server at Harvard, the Global Voices website has grown into a network of sites running a variety of applications. Our lead developer Jer Clarke maintains the sites with help from a variety of contractors and the support of the community.