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

New Pages - Indie bookstores and Indie record labels, as well as:
- Guide to Alternative Periodicals
- Guide to Alternative Newsweeklies
- New Pages Weblog
Alternative Press Center's Online Directory
Association of Alternative Newsweeklies (U.S. and Canada)
FAIR's List of Online News Sources
See also Alternative Culture Magazines

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 for America - One of the leading media criticism organizations
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)
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. See also U.S. Government documents, Fact Checking, and Politics and Law

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.