They say it's a small world but not when it comes to accurate news reporting from around the globe. There's an overwhelming amount of information that's not served to the public on major news networks, but the Internet has leveled the playing field somewhat, opening up viewpoints that can explode U.S.-centric tunnel vision.
Here's a recommended list of solid Internet sources for expanding your world view this year, listed in alphabetical order, with Dec. 29 headlines.
Aljazeera.net
http://english.aljazeera.net
Staff of this English version of the daily Arab publication claims that it is "free from the shackles of censorship and government control."
Top story -- Iran: Quake toll may hit 30,000
Antiwar.com
http://www.antiwar.com/
A lively compendium of war stories culled from newspapers, radio stations and other media outlets around the world.
Top story -- Blair under fire again after US denies 'Massive Evidence' claim
AlterNet.org
http://www.alternet.org/
This well-networked syndication project is part of the Independent Media Institute, a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening and supporting independent and alternative journalism.
Top story -- The Incomparable Judy Steinberg Dean: Howard Dean's wife has not quit her day job for her husband's campaign. But is America ready for a working First Lady?
Arab News
http://www.arabnews.com
"The Middle East's Leading English Language Daily" is read by millions.
Top story -- Smart infiltrators use donkeys to cross border undetected
Bad Subjects
http://www.eserver.org/bs/
This site is dedicated to "Political Education for Everyday Life," with political commentary and social criticism
Top story: Evildoer caught! No secrets revealed!
Common Dreams NewsCenter
http://www.commondreams.org/
Nonprofit is committed to being on the cutting edge of using the Internet as a political organizing tool and creating new models for Internet activism.
Top story -- Jobless count skips millions: The rate hits 9.7% when the underemployed and those who have quit looking are added
The Consortium for Independent Journalism Inc.
http://www.consortiumnews.com/
Nonprofit organization relies on donations to produce its well-researched stories and keep its web publication alive.
Top story -- Bush & democracy hypocrisy
Daily Times
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk
Calling itself "a new voice for a new Pakistan," the online newspaper speaks for a different culture.
Top story -- Islamabad: National Assem-bly gives 58(2)b powers to the president
Disinformation
http://www.disinfo.com/
Project offers "information on current affairs, politics, new science and the 'hidden information' that seldom seems to slip through the cracks of the corporate-owned media conglomerates."
Top story -- IDF shoots two peace activists
FAIR (Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting)
http://www.fair.org/
National media-watch group offers criticism of media bias and censorship.
Top story -- An aggressive conservative vs. a "liberal to be determined": The false balance of Hannity & Colmes
Flak Magazine
http://www.flakmag.com
Self-professed noncomprehensive guide to everything takes "the raw creativity of strong writers and tempers it with good sense, good taste and the spirit of responsible journalism."
Top story -- Beanballs over Baghdad
Global Corruption Report
(on Transparency International website)
http://www.transparency.org
International nongovernmental organization is devoted to "combating corruption by bringing together civil society, business and governments."
Top story -- Bulgaria: Over 40 Bulgarian officials sacked for corruption in 2003
Global Security Newswire
(on Nuclear Threat Initiative website)
http://www.nti.org
Site publishes daily news on "nuclear, biological and chemical weapons, terrorism and related issues."
Top story -- U.S. Congress seeks better system for funding terrorism response
Guerilla News Network
http://www.guerrillanews.com/
This is a gathering spot for links to alternative coverage of terrorism, corporate crime and the environment.
Top story -- America, poverty and December 04: A radical economic outlook
The Hindu
http://www.hinduonnet.com/holnus/index.htm
Online edition of India's national newspaper balances Western reports.
Top story -- Islamabad: Pak. for PMs meet at SAARC
Independent Media Center
http://www.indymedia.org/
A collective of independent media organizations and hundreds of journalists, this project offers grassroots, noncorporate coverage.
Top story -- Australia: Freedom or death: Hunger strikers maintain resolve
Independent.co.uk
http://www.independent.co.uk
One of the leading British general-circulation newspapers reports on U.K. and international news as well as major issues of the day.
Top story -- British planes are to carry armed guards
Media Whores Online
http://www.mediawhoresonline.com
For die-hard cynics, here's "The site that set out to bring the media to their knees, but found they were already there."
Top Whore Watch story -- Waiting for the General (Wesley Clark)
Reason Online
http://www.reason.com
This daily updated website is a companion to the monthly print magazine for "free minds and free markets," covering politics, culture and ideas.
Top story -- 35 years of Reason: A history in excerpts
Reuters
http://www.reuters.com
Largest international multimedia news agency always has its pulse on the world.
Top story -- Feds say beef safe despite Mad Cow
Salon.com
http://www.salon.com
Internet media company daily updates eight original, smart and sassy content sites -- News and Politics, Opinion, Technology & Business, Arts & Entertainment, Books, Sex, Life and Comics -- as well as two online communities, Table Talk and The WELL.
Top post -- Dean Vermont energy group met in private
Technorati
www.technorati.com/cosmos/currentevents.html
Meta-blog culls entries from a quarter million weblogs around the world.
Top story -- Japan's Empire of CoolMon: Japan is reinventing itself, this time as the coolest nation on earth
THE DAILY YOMIURI
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/index-e.htm
The online, English version of this Japanese daily is a corporate stronghold.
Top story -- Govt may send SDF to Iran
ZNet
http://www.zmag.org/znet.htm
Far-reaching content aggregator targets "a community of people committed to social change."
Top story -- Content of whose character: Race, college admissions and the fallacy of merit
