With sorrow and sadness I would like to announce that Prism will cease to publish as of today (January 08, 2013).
It has been a humbling 3-year journey for me as a publisher. I am proud with what Prism has achieved given that it was run on a tight budget compared to other similar online publications. That was made possible because of the tremendous efforts made by the various volunteers who gave up much of their precious time for a project they believed in.
The plan was to grow Prism to a level where it could sustain a gradual growth but we have realized over the past few months that was not going to materialize any time soon mainly due to two factors: readers in general have come to accept the notion of consuming online journalism for free (so the idea of generating income via a paywall/subscription was not an option as it would have failed), and second the topic Prism covered was focused on non-mainstream topics, i.e. Prism was deprived of the masses required to sustain an online magazine. Donations raised through the website and a private donor weren’t sufficient to sustain existing and future growth.
A board meeting took place few weeks ago to discuss the future of Prism given the lack of resources to take it to the next level. The board unanimously approved the closure unless a like-minded web magazine was willing to adopt it.
Those online magazines who have interest in adopting Prism can email their request by using the Contact Us form. Only those the board deems a good fit will be contacted for further discussion. Failing to find an appropriate adopter the Prism website will be taken offline by no later than the end of April.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank our contributors and readers/donors for the immense attention and interest they have devoted to Prism.
This work by Prism Magazine is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Noa Kleinman
January 16, 2013 at 2:09 pm
I am really sorry that you have been forced to cease publication. It is bad news for human rights if you do not find space elsewhere. Many apologies for being unable to contribute financially
Eric
January 14, 2013 at 5:40 pm
Thanks for all your efforts.
Have you considered getting a dedicated column or page with rabble, StraightGoods or the Tyee?
Katherine Maas
January 12, 2013 at 5:56 pm
SO sorry to see the end of Prism. I really appreciate the work everyone did to make it happen and I wish you the very best for the future.
Sherry
January 12, 2013 at 3:41 pm
Dear Maher,
This is sad news. You tried your best to fill a void, and for that your efforts should be celebrated.
I wish you success in whatever you next choose to do.
Good luck!
Tita
January 12, 2013 at 12:29 pm
You’ve contributed highly valuable information during difficult years for those of us around the world who follow issues related to truth, justice and fairness as well as for your own recovery from such traumatic, unfair treatment, without any US apology. I hope you create new ways to live fully despite all the challenges.
Paul Trollope
January 12, 2013 at 11:26 am
I read with much sadness about Prism’s financial problems and decision to cease publication unless these were resolved by the “adoption” of prism by a like-minded onine web magazine. That really narrows the field. I have really appreciated the articles and posts you have offered over the last six months that I have been aware of Prism. I have of course read the media versions of your personal and family tribulations, and I so much admire your unbelievable resilience and ability to rise above the oppression of the system to do what you are doing. Best of luck to you and your family. I only wish I could help in some tangible way.
Marie Lloyd
January 12, 2013 at 11:18 am
Dear Maher Arar,
I’m so sorry to see this excellent online forum. You and your wife have long been sources of inspiration for me, and your work at Prism only confirms my great respect. I’m sad that Prism is ending but grateful for its past existence.Thank you so much for all that you have done.
Vaudree Lavallee
January 12, 2013 at 11:08 am
Thank you for everything that you have done in getting the truth out and for the big heart that you have shown others even under even the most trying circumstances. Hope to see your writings in the future.
PS Tell Monia thank you for insuring that Canada did the right thing in spite of itself. We need more strong women like her.
Your children have much to be proud of from both of you.
Don Kerr
January 12, 2013 at 10:18 am
To Maher Arar: Thanks for your brave attempts to publish important information on the abuses of human rights that other media fail to cover adequately. I hope that we will continue to hear from you.
DK
Mike Larsen
January 8, 2013 at 3:42 pm
To Maher and the rest of the Prism team,
Thanks for your efforts, and for producing a unique forum for analysis and commentary on insecurity and human rights. It has been a pleasure to occasionally contribute to Prism.
I wish you well in your future endeavors, and I hope that the discourse that emerged from the pages of Prism will percolate into other Canadian publications and venues.
Sincerely,
Mike Larsen
Instructor, Criminology
Kwantlen Polytechnic University
Karen
January 8, 2013 at 11:25 am
I have very much appreciated the information you have been distributing, but I agree it is a very tough climate in which to operate a paid publication. I truly wish you and your family (both writers and personal) success in future endeavours and hope this is not the last we will hear from you.
A.David
January 8, 2013 at 9:45 am
Thank you for your dedication.
I really hope you will find writing space with other publications such as Alternet, MotherJones or NouvelObs. If you or any of your staff do, please publish this info so we can encourage you to
Keep Up the Good Work!