Alternative News Media, Media Criticism, and Political Research

On this page you will find links to sites that go beyond the news you get in the mainstream media.

Alternative News Media

Alternative Press Review - Reviews of 'zines and excerpts
AlterNet.org - News service with original investigative journalism on issues like the environment, drug war, technology, sexual politics, and health issues
Common Dreams - "Breaking news & views for the progressive community"
Grist Magazine - Environmental news and humor
Independent Media Center - A collective network "for the creation of radical, accurate, and passionate tellings of the truth." Formed at the time of the 1999 anti-WTO protests in Seattle.
Mother Jones - Progressive news magazine
The Nation - Fighting the good fight since 1865
Project Censored - Picks the top 25 censored (i.e., neglected) news stories every year. In the meantime, points out stories the mainstream media are currently missing or avoiding.
Tom Paine.com - Original articles and reprints from other sources, in the tradition of one of America's great revolutionaries
Truthout - Other views on the news, often from liberal politicians and columnists

Alternative Press Center - Publishers of the Alternative Press Index, in libraries everywhere

The site that was in this spot has been removed due to its suddenly anti-Semitic editorial policy.

Disinformation - Says that "you are being lied to" and "everything you know is wrong." Whether or not that's the case, don't believe everything you read. [disinfo.com]
Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) - Points out the "media practices that marginalize public interest, minority and dissenting viewpoints"
I Want Media - News about the media
MCS: The Media and Communications Studies Site - Directory of media outlets and critical studies of the media
Media Channel.org - Commentary on the news and the media that report it
Media Matters
On the Media - A public radio program examining current media and news reporting
PR Watch - The Center for Media and Democracy points out PR and spin masquerading as news
Romanesko's Media News - Frequent updates on what's happening in media. Can be a bit inside baseball for most. From the site for journalists: Poynter.org

The Big Ten (The Nation)
Conservative Media Owners [LiberalSlant.com]
Media Giants (Frontline, PBS)
Media Ownership, 2001 - A little dated, but still a helpful chart (Media Channel)
Well Connected - News and a database of media ownership (TV and radio) by the Center for Public Integrity
Who Owns What (Columbia Journalism Review)
Other Resources - Data, statistics, other media links (I Want Media)

If you're skeptical of what you're told about politics, read the raw material of political news at these sites.

Federation of American Scientists - Seeks the truth about issues of war and peace
The Memory Hole - Displays documents and photos those in power try to cover up ("Rescuing Knowledge, Freeing Information")
National Security Archive - Research institute that collects documentary evidence of the U.S. government's international policy activities
Open Secrets - Reports on contributions to U.S. politicians
The Public Eye - Web site of Political Research Associates, which "works to facilitate public understanding of the threat posed to human rights by oppressive and authoritarian right-wing movements in the United States"
The Smoking Gun - Actual documents from news stories. Many of them have to do with celebrities, crime, and celebrities accused of crimes, but you can find some good political stuff here, too.
See also U.S. Government documents and Politics and Law