The Good Men Project is pleased to announce that Noah Brand will be taking on the role of Editor-In-Chief, officially starting Monday, March 12th. Noah hails from the website “No Seriously, What About the Menz?”, which states, “Who cares about men? We do.”
Noah has been editing since he was 16, has been a strong contributing writer to the Good Men Project over the past months. Noah will work on strengthening The Good Men Project brand through the core values of a male perspective, pure storytelling, and provocative yet thoughtful debate. Part of Noah’s vision revolves around taking the current assumptions society holds about men and challenging them one by one. Lisa Hickey, publisher of The Good Men Project and CEO of Good Men Media, Inc., also notes that entrepreneurship and community-building, are “in his blood”, in fact, Noah’s father had built the very first online community ever, The Well. “We are building a new type of media company,” says Hickey. “A community of men focused on an international discussion about what it means to be a good man in the 21st century. That task requires an editorial leadership that is passionate, courageous and strong, and I look forward to all that Noah can bring to help us move forward.”
Noah adds, “I want to make the Good Men Project the primary voice for issues of men and masculinity in our culture.”
The Good Men Project was founded in 2009 by Tom Matack. It has grown to a multi-media, multi-platoform social movement, with goodmenproject.com as its hub. The Good Men Project website currently gets 1.3 million pageviews per month and reaches people in 242 countries around the world. Noah joins over 450 writers and contributors, along with an editorial and blogging staff that includes Jamie Reidy, Joanna Schroeder, Justin Cascio, Marcus Williams and Jackie Summers.
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photo by Good Men Project contributor and friend, Stephen Sheffield
“The Good Men Project website currently gets 1.3 million pageviews per month…”
Is that include REAL page views or that annoying REFRESH feature that you employ?
This is fantastic news. I had written GMP off after the Hugo nonsense. I don’t think you could have picked a better person.
I see a lot of back and forth regarding whether Noah Brand is a Feminist, or whether he hates MRA’s, whether he’s a bigot, whether he’s anti-male. Apparently the majority opinion is that he’s a “stranger in the house”. Frankly, I’ve been reading Noah’s article at NSWATM for over 2 years, and I’ve yet to see him make a controversial opinion not already made by the rank and file of the MRM time and again, including MRAs. And for the record, I take issue with MRAs trying to co-opt the movement in the comments… Ya’ll aren’t the only group who… Read more »
Lol. He’s barely on board and already my comments are “awaiting moderation”. He certainly doesn’t waste any time. Now, sure, he might not be the one doing that, it might be nobody as sometimes the systems sends false positives or perhaps I did step over the line. But how would I ever know? I mean, last time he never told me why or even warned me about being banned completely. No chance to explain or take back just ban. That’s the problem when you shut down discussions. You also shut down trust and that can’t just be redeemed so easily.… Read more »
ADI, I’ve emailed you directly asking for a dialogue and am waiting on Lisa’s approval as we usually don’t approve comments immediately that attack the site. In addition, we only have volunteers running moderation and so we don’t always get to see what’s in queue until time has past. Feel free to email me or Lisa if you have additional concerns and I’ll talk with Lisa and get your comment approved.
Noah Brand comes from a website which uses extreme censorship to advance the ideology of feminism, at the expense of anything and everything else. I was banned from commenting there after a single post which I made to politely defend myself from accusations people were making about me there.
It is akin to a website which advances religious cult beliefs. Every time it seems TGMP is starting to go in the right direction, you go and do something like this. I swear, every time.
We are not approaching comment moderation in the same way as Noah did on his site. They are two separate things entirely.
Lisa, I just have one concern.
Can you guarantee that my articles on bullying by girls and women, male guilt and the Suvivor’s Hub will still exist with Noah around? Because I’ve had my issues with him in the past.
Can you also gurantee that any article I put forward won’t be immediatly rejected if I cricitise certain types of feminists or the women and girls that hurt me?
These are my fears and I hope you will assure me they don’t come true as an editor and one of the main voices here, next to Tom Matlock.
Hi Eagle, First of all, just so you know — we don’t have moderators working 24/7. So if it takes a few minutes, to get out of the queue, that is why. You have my word that all of your posts will stay, intact, and that any piece you submit will be looked at by me personally as well as Noah. We want you to be heard. There is a difference between attacking people for their beliefs (which we won’t allow), and giving information about personal experiences (which we do allow.) We work with everyone the same way to make… Read more »
then Lisa I have to ask as you are the second feminist inclined within the GMP to have implied that criticisim of ideology wont be allowed , This seems like you are stating that articles critical of feminisim which is something that many of us have had issues with wont be allowed, if this is a feminist safe space then it does cause issues…..
If you insist that Noah is going to have a bias, you will see that in everything he does. This whole anti-feminist critique of him is suppression fire plain and simple. What we need in order to make progress on men’s issues is an open platform where all points of view are allowed to succeed or fail in the marketplace of ideas, based on their merit. Who can slap each other the hardest is a fool’s game.
Let’s not pretend that Noah is a new contender that just appeared from nowhere when he came on board here this week. While some of the folks here may be taking their concerns about him too far their concerns are still valid to a point I say. What we need in order to make progress on men’s issues is an open platform where all points of view are allowed to succeed or fail in the marketplace of ideas, based on their merit. Thus their concern. If all points of view are not allowed a fair chance to succed/fail then there… Read more »
Given that there is probably no shortage of candidates for the job, the decision to bring on this bigot must have been political. This site is ultimately about gaining visitors and that is done best by submitting to the feminist lobby. The message this sends to men is that we can only talk about men’s issues under the watchful eye of feminists who will carefully prod and meddle to morph the discussion into one that is ultimately designed to serve women – however subtly. The question of “what men want” will quickly change into “what women want” – not so… Read more »
I’ll quote Lisa above, “It is important to note that Noah was involved in our site in many ways before being named editor. He commented, he wrote, he contacted us about editing, he helped find other writers, he stepped up when he saw the opportunity and asked to be considered. If any MRA’s had done that also, we would have absolutely considered them for the job. We really looked at people who are actively involved in numerous ways in the community, and with that people who understand that what we are doing is a community but also a media company… Read more »
Well, we always knew the agenda for this site. Brand is not only feminist, but doggedly anti-MRA. Will his links to Southern Poverty Law Center come with him?
Bad choice, Lisa. I am not saying you should have picked an MRA, but the fact is many in that community view this website as intended to derail efforts at men’s activism. You just served them reinforcement for that idea….on steroids.
Hi Justa Mann, It is important to note that Noah was involved in our site in many ways before being named editor. He commented, he wrote, he contacted us about editing, he helped find other writers, he stepped up when he saw the opportunity and asked to be considered. If any MRA’s had done that also, we would have absolutely considered them for the job. We really looked at people who are actively involved in numerous ways in the community, and with that people who understand that what we are doing is a community but also a media company and… Read more »
the thing is Lisa , its not just his view, its every non feminist who has posted on this thread and beyond , its been implied that feminisim will be exempt from criticisim and to top that off you have even tried to Eagle by stating that it will not just be noah checking articles, the fact that the bias is so evident there has to be someone checking his “work” is a very , very worrying place to start , what you have done is make this place a feminist safe space while making it male unfriendly unless they… Read more »
Criticism and critique are one thing that I would thing all ideological pieces would be subject to in how they are curated and also in comments. Hating and bashing are things we will moderate for, both in comments and on articles. There is a whole editorial team in place checking articles, which I don’t find odd or unusual in today’s media world.
Hiring someone who comes up with such an absurd concept as the “success myth” isn’t exactly a good sign for where this is going. And having such an article on a site titled “good men project” makes the farce complete.
I hope Noah Brand will be able to be less biased than he is on his home blog and that this comments section here doesn’t get bogged down in the same quagmire of intellectual dishonesty and rhetorical trickery that NSWATMs often does. This mag has been making some good progress lately, it would be a shame to see that roll back because of ideological commitments and biases.
“One step forward; two steps back?”
We will see….
It may be premature to assume Noah will take the same anti-male tone that’s visible on the Menz blog. Give him a chance.
We’ve only seen him on a forum devoted to (ugh) feminist goals. This one is different. Who’s to say how Noah will function here, until we see him in action?
I hate to use an old scottish phrase but its appropriate ,” you can gold plate a turd but its still just a gold plated pile of S”£t” If someone subscribes to an ideology as feverently as his writing indicates there will always be very obvious bias and as has been said he has ties to manboobz who is distinctly anti males issues and that risks a worrying dynamic developing it also creates a situation where someone who is aggressively adherant to an ideology is an editor of a site that “allegedly” wants imput and discourse from both spectrums and… Read more »
You may be right, Scott. But I’m willing to wait and see how Noah operates.
Copyleft, thanks so much for your support.
I think you will all find that GMP will only become better for everyone who comes here eager to learn and share knowledge with one another.
im the same i have emailed and asked for my stuff to be pulled from the site , and forwarded the new stuff to paul and JTO.
Yaay! an new Principal Skinner for a room full of Barts…(just kidding)
hmmm, disturbing to learn. i wonder about noah’s ability to be as impartial as lisa was.
still, feminists here and on ozy’s blog can do a jig all they want, in the hope that noah will do a slow python death-squeeze on nonfeminist articles and comments. what theyve forgotten is that noah’s overlords are lisa and tom. and tom got a bloody good glasgow kiss (a big headbutt) over xmas11 from feminists
i dont think tom has forgotten that, at all
I find it so interesting that there is a wonderful post up on gender wars and the hope to step outside and away from the poles to actually have conversation and now we have a new and talented editor, a man who will be working with other men and women (men and women focused on that very egalitarian “outside the space of the poles” mission)here to create an incredible conversation about masculinity and we have immediate comments on lack of hope, python death squeezes, and circle jerking. Which only does the work of positively reinforcing the poles that many declare… Read more »
The problem is Julie is someone is coming in with an agenda that is so blatantly opposed the feelings that many of us who “used” this site then it makes it a non “safe” enviroment for men to share, this is going to do more harm than good.
@ Julie,
well, maybe it might have something to do with the fact that the man you hired is well known for shutting down debate and refusing to enter a dialogue. Just a little thought from Captain Obvious.
Also, his support for manboobz that repeatedly fabricates lies about MRAs only to spread more anger and hatred does not exactly inspire confidence.
Julie , its not even just that its as we have said , manboobz is directly involved with srs who are a known bunch of bigots and your supporting someone with direct ties to the site “quoted” by the SPLC when claiming we are all full of hate speech , what has happened is akin to putting the grand dragon of the klan in charge of the naacp/
Bravo, Julie.
Of course ill give Noah a fair go. Also I said before my own personal belief is that aslight skew towards more feminist articles seems to work best in terms of commenter activity. Just as long the skew wasnt approaching 70% or more, of gender articles coming through the feminist lens Ive never subscribed to the thinking, ‘that the customer is always right’. Ive never bought the nonsense that it is unprofessional to tell the customer they are clown – But hey people say i think differently. I hope Noah does not rein in his combatative nature on comment threads.… Read more »
Julie: I can’t speak for all the people that may appear to be prejudgin Noah but I think some of them have a very legitimate reason to be concerned about him coming on board here. This is Noah’s definition of MRAs: “MRA: This term stands for “Men’s Rights Advocate”, but in practice has come to refer to any of a loose coalition of groups based primarily in opposition to feminism. A few also advocate for men’s gender issues, but as antipathy toward feminism is the required ideological stance for anyone calling themselves an MRA, it is fair to regard that… Read more »
My mind is never ever free of worry, Danny. I’m both very idealistic about things but also that’s balance with a strong dose of realism about how people work. We are all biased. The question becomes-can one examine the bias, listen, depress defensiveness and learn (EVEN if one doesn’t agree)? I see underhanded techniques all over the internet. I see shock pieces that are designed for page views and creating muddy waters. I see misinterpretation of facts (either intentional or non). What I see most of all are mirrors within mirrors, counter dependence, and a refusal to identify the human… Read more »
The goal here continues to be one of impartiality and focusing on men first.
I would invite anyone here who has concerns — now or anytime in the future — to email me directly at [email protected]
I told Tom Matlack I was going to be a controversial choice for the position, which seems to be true so far, but then, it’s only my second day on the job. As I said over at No Seriously, What About Teh Menz?, that’s a place for my voice, and Good Men Project is a place for many voices. When I’ve been here a little longer, folks might have more data to judge from, at least on the question of whether I’m wrecking up the place.
Yes Noah, that’s my position on it. Pre-judging wastes valuable time that could be better spent working on those spaces for dialogue and change.
The “lets see what happens” justification can be applied to hiring a chimp.
i also recall llyod george having the same sort of viewpoint but i wont follow that analogy too far.
@Noah
You better start building your big boat and put your beloved pets (ideas) on it because the criticism are going to rain for much longer period than forty days.
Ha 😀
well you better remove the articles that were posted on here that i wrote as they are not exactly women friendly and using someone who is not just a feminist with blatant issues with the MRA which what about the menz has show, he is also part of SRS which is about the most bigoted and anti male group on the internet .
I have been speaking up for this site , looks like the whole male friendly aspect of it and allowing us to share our pain was a bait and switch .
Truly awful, awful decision .
About a month back I had hope for this site.
That’s now gone.
I have my doubts if this will be a good development for the GMP, Noah is a feminist, which makes me beg why we couldn’t find a male rights activist for the job. But hey maybe radfemhub will employ a mra for their editor in chief post.
sad thing is , that is an accurate comparative .
You think the GMP is the male equivalent of redfemhub?
This is a really good development for the GMPM. I’m glad Noah joined us.
Does this mean that someone will get around to looking into the post I submitted almost two weeks ago about the joke Billy Crystal made about Jonha Hill’s weight at the Oscars?
Congratulations Noah! Now get to work. 😉 lol
I am banned from Noah’s website, ‘No Seriously What About Teh Menz’. For caring TOO MUCH about men. I think this is not good news for GMP.
Well, the Menz blog _does_ have a stated purpose of advancing feminist goals; fortunately, TGMP does not. It will be interesting to see the contrast with Noah at the helm.
Here is Noah’s definiton of MRAs: “MRA: This term stands for “Men’s Rights Advocate”, but in practice has come to refer to any of a loose coalition of groups based primarily in opposition to feminism. A few also advocate for men’s gender issues, but as antipathy toward feminism is the required ideological stance for anyone calling themselves an MRA, it is fair to regard that as their essential ideology. Many advocates for these same issues decline the MRA label for fear of being associated with the knee-jerk anti-feminism that the acronym is understood to indicate.” So, this going to be… Read more »
seems to be the case, you could have guessed that the sites upper management had done there due dilligence before hand and as such would be aware of these views , and as such we suddenly become expendable and an annoyance , i honestly was pleased seeing the changes in this place over the past few months it was a place that coud be something special , now i dread to think .
“A few also advocate for men’s gender issues” wow… seriously?
Oh well, he’s got the job now, lets see what he does with the place. The GMP has had a pretty open editorial policy so far, unless that changes I don’t see the problem.
Our open editorial policy, our focus on men first, our continuing to strive for a diversity of men’s voices and a way in which we talk about men’s issues is not going to change.
Thanks for talking a “let’s see what happens” approach. As I have mentioned before, people should feel free to email me with questions or concerns. Many of you have. I do appreciate all of the feedback and what people are saying here has been noted.
Thanks :). Also, I love the picture that accompanies the post. He reminds me of Canute.
“Henry of Huntingdon, the 12th-century chronicler, tells how Cnut set his throne by the sea shore and commanded the tide to halt and not wet his feet and robes. Yet “continuing to rise as usual [the tide] dashed over his feet and legs without respect to his royal person. Then the king leapt backwards, saying: ‘Let all men know how empty and worthless is the power of kings, for there is none worthy of the name, but He whom heaven, earth, and sea obey by eternal laws.’ He then hung his gold crown on a crucifix, and never wore it… Read more »