In this respect, the short-lived existence
of many alternative media need not necessarily
be seen, as the former alternative media research
group Comedia (1984, p. 97) suggests, as
a sign of a lack of financially viable modes of
operation, but rather as a manifestation of what
Atton (2002a, p. 50) calls the “mutual” and
“synergetic” relationship between alternative
media and the alternative public sphere.
Alternative media tend to flourish during periods
of social and political upheaval, while languishing
during periods of relative social and
political calm (Streitmatter, 2001, p. 275).