Analysis and Opinion

One reason many people choose to study history is to gain a better understanding of the contemprary world. But applying proper historical comparisions to modern events is an impossible task for someone unfamiliar with current issues. In order to be a solid student of history, you should keep up with couple of current information sources that you trust/like and examine several others from time to time. Listed below are some sources I have found useful over the years. The list is not intended to be comprehensive; if you do not like any of these sources, then find some you do. I have taken the liberty of marking a few of my favorites with an *.

Most of the links below are for independent publications. In this case independent means independent from big corporate sponsors who often influence the types of news reported. If the site description is in "quotes" then I took it directly from the sites "about us" section -- an area of websites you should become familiar with as it tells you who created the site and why.

• AdBusters is dedicated to a critical examination of the advertising industry and are the people that bring you such holidays as TV Turn Off Week (April 22-28) and Buy Nothing Day.
• Alternet.org: Independent News and Information is an online publication dedicated to providing information from a grass roots and activist perspective and is the child of the Independent Media Center which "is a collective of independent media organizations and hundreds of journalists offering grassroots, non-corporate coverage."
• America's Defense Monitor presents a "balance of facts and commentary on military and foreign relations issues" produced by the Center for Defense Information, and independent military research organization.
• Columbia Journalism Review a major monitor of the American media.
• Common Cause "a nonpartisan nonprofit advocacy organization founded in 1970...as a vehicle for citizens to make their voices heard in the political process and to hold their elected leaders accountable to the public interest."
• Corporate Watch "investigates and exposes corporate violations of human rights, environmental crimes, fraud and corruption around the world."
• Counterpunch a "bi-weekly muckraking newsletter edited by Alexander Cockburn and Jeffrey St. Clair."
• Covert Action Quarterly a site that seems to be frequently down or incomplete, but containing a small archive of articles unlikely to be found anywhere else.
• * Democracy Now! Hear Amy Goodman's valuable show concerned with current events on the internet every weekday. Might also be available on a noncommercial radio station near you.
• Dissent "A [quarterly] magazine of the left, Dissent is also a magazine of independent minds. A magazine of strong opinions, Dissent is also a magazine that welcomes the clash of strong opinions."
• Dollars and Sense: The Magazine of Economic Justice seeks to "... challenge the mainstream media's account of how the U.S. economy works by publishing popularly written, critical articles in an accessible format."
• The Economist unfortunately this UK based site has many "subscribers only" features, but it is one of the top business and world affairs publications.
• Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) Media bias and censorship watchdog organization established in 1986. Highly recommended is their weekly radio show CounterSpin.
• * Free Speech Radio News Full of radio webcasts from independent reporters from around the world.
  
• Free Speech TV is the website for one of the best sources for news and current events available on television. Unfortunately it is only available on Dish TV. Contains numerous streaming videos.
• * Frontline "Since January 1983, FRONTLINE has served as American public television's - PBS - flagship public affairs series." Many programs available online.
• Global Exchange "is a membership-based international human rights organization dedicated to promoting social, economic and environmental justice around the world."
• History News Network "Among the many duties we assume are these: To expose politicians who misrepresent history. To point out bogus analogies. To deflate beguiling myths. To remind Americans of the irony of history. To put events in context. To remind us all of the complexity of history."
• In These Times often honored by project censored for dealing with 'under reported' news stories.
• Jane’s Information Group "is a world leading provider of intelligence and analysis on national and international defence, security and risk developments. Jane’s is an independent organisation with an unrivalled reputation of accuracy, authority and impartiality."
• Left Business Observer "is an 8-page more-or-less monthly newsletter on economics and politics in the U.S. and the world at large." Site also carries links to Editor Doug Henwoods weekly radio show covering politics and economics.
• The Media Channel "is a media issues supersite, featuring criticism, breaking news, and investigative reporting from hundreds of organizations worldwide. As the media watch the world, we watch the media."
• * Monthly Review is the best publication around for understanding issues relating to political-economy and imperialism. .
• Mother Jones independent news and analysis. Named after "orator, union organizer, and hell raiser" Mary Harris Jones.
• Multinational Monitor was founded by Ralph Nader and is currently edited by Robert Weissman and is dedicated to keeping track of the activities of Multi National Corporations around the world.
• The Nation " will not be the organ of any party, sect, or body. It will, on the contrary, make an earnest effort to bring to the discussion of political and social questions a really critical spirit, and to wage war upon the vices of violence, exaggeration, and misrepresentation by which so much of the political writing of the day is marred. "
• New Internationalist "exists to report on the issues of world poverty and inequality; to focus attention on the unjust relationship between the powerful and powerless worldwide; to debate and campaign for the radical changes necessary to meet the basic needs of all; and to bring to life the people, the ideas and the action in the fight for global justice."
• New Left Review is a London based journal "renowned for its contribution to social theory, political analysis, and cultural criticism."
• The Progressive founded in 1909 by Senator Robert M. La Follette Sr. of Wisconsin as "La Follette’s Weekly." "The goal, he wrote, was “winning back for the people the complete power over government —national, state, and municipal—which has been lost to them.” He attacked private greed in the form of corporate monopolies that hoarded power. He championed the public interest, campaigning for social and economic justice. And he urged the United States not to entangle itself in foreign wars."
• Thomas Paine.Common Sense: A Journal of Opinion "is for people who want to keep in touch with the progressive community but don't have time to surf dozens of websites. We do it for you. It's also for people who care about the progressive cause and are looking for an online home. Each day we scour the country—from Capitol Hill to newspapers to think tanks and activist groups—and highlight the news, ideas and actions that you need to stay fully informed. Because we're based in Washington, D.C., expect us to be obsessed with the workings of the nation's capitol."
• United for a Fair Economy "... a national, independent, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. UFE raises awareness that concentrated wealth and power undermine the economy, corrupt democracy, deepen the racial divide, and tear communities apart. We support and help build social movements for greater equality."
• Utne "reprints the best articles from over 2,000 alternative media sources bringing you the latest ideas and trends emerging in our culture"
• Z Magazine is an excellent resource with a focus on activism in a wide-range of social issues. Available in Spanish and several other languages.