NEWS

Max Borders to take the reins at The Freeman

OCTOBER 15, 2012 by MIKE VAN WINKLE

ATLANTA – The Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) has tapped Max Borders to become the organization’s new Editor and Director of Content. The position includes responsibility for external publications, including editorships of The Freeman magazine, The Freeman Online and FEE.org.

Borders is best known as an iconoclastic libertarian writer. FEE executives believe his work in creative development, new media and filmmaking will position Borders to take FEE’s content to new audiences.

“Bringing Max on board is a home run for FEE,” said Lawrence Reed, FEE’s president. “He knows the magazine and has published in it. He knows how to reach the audience of young people we’re aiming for. He is skilled in a wide range of media. And he’s an articulate spokesman for liberty who will magnify FEE’s voice immensely.”

Borders recently wrapped up a Robert Novak Fellowship, a prize awarded by the Phillips Foundation of Washington, D.C. His fellowship work culminated in a brand new book: Superwealth: Why we should stop worrying about the gap between rich and poor – slated for release in late October. He has also been writing and producing a documentary.

Despite juggling some interesting projects, he is clearly humbled by the opportunity to work at FEE.

“These were once Sheldon’s shoes,” says Borders of his new position, “and they’re certainly big shoes to fill.” Sheldon Richman had been The Freeman’s editor for over fifteen years. Borders adds: “I will honor everyone who’s ever run The Freeman by continuously improving our offering.”

In 2010, Borders contributed a chapter to New Threats to Freedom (Templeton Press) among leading lights David Mamet, Richard Epstein and Christopher Hitchens. Borders has written for The Freeman in the past, as well as The Washington Examiner, The Daily Caller and The Motley Fool. He is former managing editor at TCSDaily.com (Tech Central Station).

Even as he respects The Freeman’s tradition, Borders says he will break with it when necessary.

“I want The Freeman to be exciting and contemporary,” Borders admits. “Our writers will return to the wellspring of thought that made this publication great. And we will certainly pull from a pantheon that includes Mises, Hayek, Hazlitt, Friedman and Leonard Read himself. But we will look to the future. We’ll discover new voices, share new ideas, and celebrate bold experiments in human freedom.”

With their new focus, FEE leadership hopes The Freeman will evolve into a more compelling organism for a wider audience, even as timeless principles remain in its DNA.

“FEE focuses on working with young people – 16- to 24-year-olds – who are seeking answers to fundamental questions about how the world really works,” says Carl Oberg, Executive Director at FEE. “Among the students we reach in their formative years are the leading entrepreneurs, educators, media professionals, public officials and philanthropists of tomorrow. By opening their minds at this critical age, we are giving them the tools to be effective, life-long activists for liberty.  The Freeman and all of our content that Max will be working on are key to that effort.”

FEE’s tradition extends back to 1946, when an energetic Leonard Read opened the doors to what would become the original free-market think tank. The founding came at a time when the world had just been ravaged by authoritarian powers with grand plans. History has changed, but the instinct to dominate and a will to plan are alive in many leaders. According to Borders, The Freeman “will remain a check on authority and a guardian of the principle of voluntary association.”

For inquiries, please contact info [at] fee.org, or call 1-800-960-4FEE.