PULSE POINTS:
❓What Happened: The Islam Channel’s parent company, E Media Group, has acquired the United Kingdom’s left-wing Tribune magazine, promising to expand its print and online presence.
👥 Who’s Involved: Islam Channel founder Mohamed Ali Harrath, Tribune’s editorial team, Labour Member of Parliament (MP) Jon Trickett, and Jacobin founder Bhaskar Sunkara.
📍 Where & When: United Kingdom, announced in June 2025.
💬 Key Quote: Mohamed Ali Harrath stated, “A new future for Tribune should excite anyone who wants real change, and a better and brighter future for all.”
⚠️ Impact: The acquisition has sparked criticism, with concerns about Tribune’s historic secularism and Islam Channel’s past regulatory breaches.
IN FULL:
The owner of the Islam Channel has acquired the left-wing British magazine Tribune, a publication with an 88-year history, including a period when George Orwell served as its literary editor. The announcement, made by Islam Channel’s parent company E Media Group, includes plans to increase Tribune’s print frequency and introduce new formats such as podcasts, video, and newsletters.
The existing editorial staff, led by Alex Niven, will remain, and Bhaskar Sunkara, founder of the far-left American socialist publication Jacobin, will continue to work with Tribune as part of an advisory board chaired by Labour Memeber of Parliament (MP) Jon Trickett. Sunkara relaunched Tribune in 2018 after purchasing it with profits from Jacobin.
Founded in 1937 by Labour MPs Sir Stafford Cripps and George Strauss, Tribune has a storied history. Past editors include leading British politicians such as Aneurin Bevan and Michael Foot. Currently, the magazine reaches around 10,000 print subscribers each quarter and claims to attract “hundreds of thousands” of online readers monthly.
Mohamed Ali Harrath, founder of the Islam Channel and chairman of E Group, stated: “A new future for Tribune should excite anyone who wants real change, and a better and brighter future for all.” He claimed that Tribune’s editorial independence and traditions would be preserved. Previously, he has expressed interest in the way Iran has combined Islam with political revolution.
The acquisition has drawn criticism. Lawyer David Toube, head of legal at the Jewish Leadership Council, called the move “quite remarkable,” referencing the Islam Channel’s dubious history. In 2023, Ofcom fined the broadcaster £40,000 (~$54,500) for airing a documentary containing anti-Semitic conspiracy theories.
Paul Anderson, a former Tribune editor, described the deal as “bizarre” and a low point for the publication. He criticized the magazine’s new association with the Islam Channel, citing Tribune’s traditionally secular stance and lack of ties to organized religion.
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