Merion West: Why We Do What We Do

“Just as some married couples renew their vows, we, as a publication, will take a moment to do the same and explain why we’re still doing what we’re doing.”

Some publications have mission statements, statements of principles, or documents to that effect. Others don’t. In some cases, such statements are written years and decades after the publication was first established, seeming, at times, to ground post hoc in ideological terms the founding of a publication that was, in reality, established for much more practical purposes: whether perhaps to serve a town or community or to pay its publisher’s bills. These days, with the financial incentives of digital journalism still an open question, a great many ascendant, contemporary publications likely, in fact, were established, foremost, for ideological reasons. This was, at least, the case for Merion West three-and-a-half years ago. So, just as some married couples renew their vows, we, as a publication, will take a moment to do the same and explain why we’re still doing what we’re doing.

Now, of course, our original statement of philosophy still holds. It reads:

“At Merion West, we believe that there are few dangers more pernicious than the urge to become an obedient, unthinking member of a one-size-fits-all ideology…

The desire, whatever its source, to submit with unquestioning obedience to popular opinion or the most fashionable narrative is best met by exposing oneself to a variety of facts and the best arguments of each side. At Merion West, we provide this dogma-free analysis. Our commentary acknowledges that many of the issues are more complex than how politicians and other media outlets may frame them to suit their purposes.”