User:Beth1980/Sandbox

MercatorNet (also known as Mercator) is a magazine which has been online since 2004. Its focus is parenting/family issues, bioethics, religion, philosophy and entertainment. MercatorNet aims to be a voice for human dignity and it hammers this home in its articles.

In the "what we stand for" section of the website, the magazine says:

"We place the person at the centre of media debates about popular culture, the family, sexuality, bioethics, religion and law".

Name
How did the name come about?

Gerardus Mercator (1512-1594) was a great Renaissance cartographer whose work shaped the identity of the modern world. Using the latest reports of new discoveries, he created innovative maps which became known throughout Europe. A creative and skillful craftsman, he invented the map projection which bears his name and coined the term "atlas". Mercator's life and work are metaphors for what we aspire to: craftsmanship, setting accurate courses, opening up new worlds and venturing upon stormy, uncharted seas. His maps were accurate in the center and distorted at either side -- a good image of MercatorNet's editorial policy of balance and accuracy.

Editorial Stance
According to its editor, MercatorNet aims at balance and accuracy and avoids supporting political parties. Its chosen tag is "dignitarian".

"MercatorNet isn't liberal. It isn't conservative. We don't want to be trapped on one or the other side of the culture wars. If you want a label, try ‘dignitarian’ ".

Features
– articles updated weekly – a free weekly newsletter

– selected YouTube videos

– MediaWatch of news around the world

– rss feeds

– book reviews

– movie reviews

– backgrounders: commentaries written by experts on a range of hot-button issues in the news.

Here's what some of its supporters say
Life is too short to read bad books, watch awful movies, and listen to utterly dreadful music. As a result, a bunch of Aussies started to rid the world of these evils. As fitting homage to Gerardus Mercator, the creator of the atlas, MercatorNet aims to convert and reinvent it through media by promoting and applauding entertainment with morals and ethics. This is because we, humans, deserve only top notch media and nothing less. Want to know more?

MercatorNet.com is a new online magazine dedicated to covering social issues, the media, arts, etc from a common sense perspective.

Pretty cool website. Check it out

MercatorNet Magic - I'm absolutely wrapped to let my faithful readers know that my favourtie site: MercatorNet has had a face lift. It's looking very good. Please check it out! Some features include: youtube video, interactive poll, the ability to comment on articles. The site is easy to navigate and even easier to sign up too.

Contributors
Editor: Michael Cook

Email: mcook@mercatornet.com

Michael Cook is a Melbourne journalist who has edited the family magazine Perspective for a number of years and contributes to American and Australian magazine and newspapers as a freelance writer. He also edits an international bioethics newsletter, BioEdge.

Deputy editor: Carolyn Moynihan

Email: carolyn@mercatornet.com

Carolyn Moynihan is a first wave baby-boomer (though the last of six children in her family) who graduated with an MA in English from the University of Auckland more years ago than she cares to mention. After a brief and undistinguished career teaching secondary school she moved into journalism, and for a number of years specialised in reporting on church affairs and then pro-life issues. She is the founding editor of Family Edge newsletter and Deputy Editor of MercatorNet. Living in Auckland, New Zealand, her day begins 17 hours ahead of the Eastern USA, 12 hours ahead of the UK, and two hours ahead of the Editor in Melbourne, Australia -- an advantage she has yet to fully appreciate. Her special interests are the family, women and, by force of circumstance, ageing. MercatorNet also has contributing editors in the US, Canada, Uganda, and Japan.

Support & Funding
New Media Foundation, an Australian company which sponsors innovative projects in the media, is MercatorNet's main backer. Its other project is BioEdge, a bioethics newsletter also edited by Michael Cook. MercatorNet's main financial support is donations from readers and syndication of its articles.