The alternative media – guarding against the single story
“So that is how to create a single story, show a people as one thing, as only one thing, over and over again, and that is what they become. … How… [stories] are told, who tells them, when they’re told, how many stories are told, are really dependent on power. Power is the ability not just to tell the story of another person, but to make it the definitive story of that person.” [Chimamanda Adichie, The danger of the single story]
And of course this tactic applies not only to people but also to situations. Think of ‘weapons of mass destruction’, the ‘war on terror’, ‘man-made global warming’, and so on. I see an urgent need for a diversity of views (and of debate) to encourage us to find out what is false. Below are some sources of alternative insight and comment. – the list is by no means exhaustive. However, the links from these sources lead to many other varieties of comment and opinion. I trust that the list is ‘quirky’ enough – unconventional enough – to stimulate interest, thought and debate.
And before you get exercised by some of the sources, note that because I choose to list a website it does not mean that I endorse any or all of its content.
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Sources with UK and European focus
Commentary, mainly about politics, economics, energy, free speech, the judiciary…-
"MI5 whistleblower who continues to ask difficult questions."
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"Autonomous Mind, a free thinking soul writing about politics and government, the media, climate change, democracy, liberty and the EU."
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"A dissentient afflicted with the malady of thought." And he is an Englishman who lives in rural Scotland, or so he says.
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Does what it says on the tin. Sometimes carries interesting opinions in its Blog sectionions.
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"We see the construction of the European project as part of important twin developments, both of which we oppose and write about in the blog." Read on…
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"Britain’s leading organisation promoting freedom of expression. Our website provides up-to-the-minute news and information on free expression from around the world."
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"Institute of Ideas has created a forum for intelligent and lively public debate of complex social issues. …has engaged with key debates around the themes of freedom, culture, science, thought and morality, and more…"
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"It is not enough for journalists to see themselves as mere messengers without understanding the hidden agendas of the message and the myths that surround it." Perhaps a truly international resource?
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"…to raise awareness of the systemic failure of corporate media to report the world honestly and accurately. We encourage readers to challenge the journalists, editors and media managers who set news agendas that traditionally reflect elite interests."
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"I have been a technology journalist and consultant for a quarter of a century, covering the Internet… and the free software world…" In depth articles about open access, copyright and the like.
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Privacy, human rights, the Internet and more…
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"… is an online magazine about the law aimed at ordinary people (as opposed to lawyers, businesses etc)."
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The Slog "…is primarily concerned with the deconstruction of bollocks in contemporary life." Written by 'a radical realist' (see website's About section).
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"The UK Human Rights Blog aims to provide a free, comprehensive and balanced legal update service. Our intention is not to campaign on any particular issue, but rather to present both sides of the argument on issues which are often highly controversial."
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The very motivation behind this blog is to help in the dissemination of ideas and suggestions concerning the way we interpret and act upon our mad, sad and highly mysterious post-2008 era.
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Sources giving a (mainly) USA view of events
Mainly political and economic commentary-
"…founding idea of our Web site was that a major investment was needed in journalistic endeavors committed to honestly informing the American people about important events, reporting that truly operated without fear or favor."
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"Those who wish to inhibit free access to information are... a great danger to our nation. Why would any adult interfere with the right of fellow citizens to inform themselves?" Does exactly what it says on the tin and collates 'news' daily.
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Project Censored teaches students and the public about the role of a free press in a free society; it tells the news 'that didn’t make the news' and why; good definition of modern censorship; top stories of 2012.
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"An Internet-based publication developed by committed free-market thinkers… The analysis of power elite promotions, using mainstream articles as a fulcrum of attack, is perhaps the Daily Bell's most notable current feature."
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Their mission is too long for this text box so see the About section on the site. I find some of the 'guest' posts are insightful – much broader in content than you might suppose from the site's name.
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Sources with a more global focus
International relations, power politics, economics, energy and news from around the world. Includes some larger online media corporations.-
"…seeks to reach a non-Arab international audience, as well as expatriates living in the Middle East and North Africa, in order to deepen understanding of Arab societies, cultures and economies." Part of the 'free-to-air' Al Arabiya News Channel.
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"Our mission is to provide independent, impartial news for an international audience and to offer a voice to a diversity of perspectives from under-reported regions." 24-hour news and current affairs broadcast across the globe from the Middle East.
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Dissident Voice is an internet newsletter dedicated to challenging the distortions and lies of the corporate press… The goal… is to provide hard hitting, thought provoking and even entertaining news and commentaries on politics and culture…
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"Global Voices seeks to aggregate, curate, and amplify the global conversation online – shining light on places and people other media often ignore. We work to develop… relationships that will help all voices, everywhere, to be heard."
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"Science, carbon, climate and tax – tackling tribal groupthink" And more!
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Legal analyst and science writer; co-founder and co-ordinator of Principia Scientific International (PSI); an analytical commentator with over 150 major articles published worldwide. (Mainly about the politics of climate change.)
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"Climate skepticism is free speech. Alternative points-of-view deserve to be heard." Bottom RH side of each page gives list of 'Moderate Middle Ground' blogs – explore a range of views.
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RT (previously known as Russia Today) is global multilingual television news network. It shows round-the-clock news bulletins, documentaries, talk shows, and debates, as well as sports news, plus cultural programs on Russia.
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"Features and commentaries about finance, energy and earth aimed at broadening understanding of what needs to be done to make the transition into a less affluent life more bearable." Lots of informed commentary.
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"editors who are committed to publishing news and commentary that is often not presented in the major news outlets. We research news and opinion from around the world on a daily basis."
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A military analyst who describes herself/himself as: "…a 'legal alien' currently living in the Imperial Homeland." Interesting materials re the US, Russia, the Middle East and such like.
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"Voltaire Network is a web of non-aligned press groups dedicated to the analysis of international relations. Originating from diversified political, social and cultural backgrounds, members collectively adhere to the principles of the Bandung Conference."
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"The world's most viewed site on global warming and climate change." List of lukewarm, skeptical, and pro AGW sites towards bottom RH of each page - explore many viewpoints.
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Sources with a Middle-Eastern focus
'Middle East' is mainly used to refer to Egypt, Syria, Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar.-
"Endeavours to document and educate the Israeli public and policymakers about human rights violations in the Occupied Territories, combat the phenomenon of denial prevalent among the Israeli public, and help create a human rights culture in Israel."
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"FNA is Iran's leading independent news agency, covering a wide variety of subjects in different, political, economic, cultural, social, legal, sports, military and other areas with the most up-to-date, independent, unbiased and reliable."
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The online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East… It's blogs have a range of views.
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Freelance writer, based in Nazareth, Israel, covering the Middle East since September 2001; one of three winners of the 2011 Martha Gellhorn Special Prize for Journalism.
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"…source of independent news from Palestine, MNA has become the first choice for online information for many Palestinians, and is also attracting a growing international readership…"
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