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FASHION
NEWS
|
FashionUK
www.widemedia.com/fashionuk |
|
The
design of this site is on the cutting edge and that's fitting for a
site
that focuses on the young, hip end of the fashion market and new
designers.
The site is regularly updated with the latest fashion news and
information
on the latest collections to hit the stores. Check out what the young
and
fashionable are wearing around the UK with the FashionUK roving street
fashion reports and find out more about the designers with the in-depth
interviews and profiles. |
Elle
Online
www.ellemag.com |
|
Elle
is the biggest fashion magazine in the world and this site is based
around
content pulled from the US version of the magazine - which is a bit of
a drag when it comes to finding a source for all those divine clothes
displayed
on the site. No matter: you can always enjoy window-shopping and
there's
a mass of other interesting stuff on the Elle site including beauty
news,
health and fitness advice and the obligatory horoscopes. |
Glamour
www.glamour.com |
|
We all
take great pleasure in gloating about the fashion mistakes so-called
celebrities
make and that's what makes the Glamour site so compelling - the
slideshow
archive of Celebrity fashion no-nos. Glamour is a popular US magazine
and
all the clothing featured in the mag can be bought directly from the
site
- as long as it's stocked in the US store Nordstrom that is. While
you're
visiting the Glamour site, indulge in a bit of bitchery in the online
forums
- now why did Jennifer Lopez wear that dress? |
Fashion
Angel
www.fashionangel.com |
|
Fashion
Angel is a directory of Fashion websites. However it doesn't just list
any old fashion site it actually checks them out and only lists those
it
deems "outstanding fashion websites". This site is not as glitzy and
glamorous
as the big name fashion sites, however it could lead you to some of the
more interesting and quirky style sites. |
Fashion
File
www.fashionfile.co.uk |
|
Get
the low-down on the latest fashion, the hottest models and the most
popular
designers at this stylish UK site. All the latest collections are
covered
and accompanied by plenty of good clear photos of the clothes, many of
the top catwalk shows are also captured on video. You'll find
background
information on all the major designers plus shots of their designs.
Anyone
who wants to make a career in fashion will find the list of model
agencies,
photographers, stylists and PRs invaluable. |
Fashion
Icon
www.fashion-icon.com |
|
Fashion
Icon has one mission and that's to bring you the latest fashion news.
It
turns out Fashion Icon is actually a name and she's an undercover
fashion
reporter. The site looks kind of quirky and the fashion news and
features
held on there are all written in a kitsch, breathless cod fashion
editor
style. Nevertheless it's an entertaining fashion stop-off and covers
material
that you won't find elsewhere. |
Vogue
www.vogue.com |
|
As you'd
expect, the Vogue site looks fabulous. The fashion shots are
beautifully
taken, the text is carefully crafted and the design is so stylish it
hurts.
All the latest fashion stories from the shows in New York, London,
Milan
and Paris are covered. Alternatively, if you fancy chatting to other
fashion
fiends, hang around in the online forums. There's no chance you'll miss
out on the latest fashions if you keep an eye on the Shopping List,
which
picks 5,000 key looks from the world's top designers. What's more, you
can buy clothes featured in the latest US issue of Vogue from the
online
boutique - US ordering and pricing we're afraid though. |
|
IT
News
|
The Brewery
Net Page
www.visit.to/brewerynet |
|
The Old Truman
Brewery in Brick Lane, London,E1 has become a large media centre
serving
the City of London. On site you not only get IT news but a directory of
the media companies on site. Well worth a visit to the site or go down
to Brick Lane and meet the top media people in the Vibe bar. |
The
Register
www.theregister.co.uk |
|
Biting
the hand that feeds IT, The Register's slogan reflects its often
hard-hitting
yet jovial approach taken to reporting computer news. The site reports
news stories updated by the minute with no distractions, and often
beats
everyone to exclusives. A handy feature of The Register's front design
is that all news is presented in tabloid headline form, so you can
quickly
choose the story that interests you, then click on it to get the full
report.
Useful buttons allow you to restrict the news you see to just software,
hardware, semiconductors, networks (including mobile phones, the
Internet
or channels). The Register tells it like it is. |
cnetnews.com
news.cnet.com |
|
cnet
news.com is primarily assigned to providing tech news above all else,
so
if you need to know the latest deals and steals going on in the
computer
world this is definitely one of the best places to come. The home page
is distinctly different, headlines are displayed as text links or as
small
images appropriate to the story. The reports are clearly written, well
presented on the page and highly informative.
An email
subscription facility
allows regular users to receive the best articles from the entire cnet
website via weekly email. |
VNUnet
www.vnunet.com |
|
VNUnet
is a one stop shop for computer related information. It has a host of
contributors,
covering all sections of the market, from consumers through to the
channel.
Add to this an extremely good news analysis sections, regularly updated
news headlines and oodles of other special features for the home and
business
user, and you have something for everyone. Also on the site you will
find
the latest reviews, a huge download section and even a section
advertising
the latest computer jobs. |
GA-Source
www.ga-source.com |
|
On a
slightly different slant, this site is dedicated to gaming news. It
looks
professional and is right up to date, with all the latest breaking
stories
going live immediately. Clicking on a headline brings up the full
story,
and usually this includes screenshots from the new game. Other than
news
on games, you will also find business, community, developer and
hardware
news. As you would expect, the site also has first looks reports,
previews
and reviews. On top of all this there are features, interviews,
hardware
reviews and a file download section. Where else could you find all this
information on one site? |
OS
News
www.osnews.com |
|
Despite
only being updated biweekly, OS news contains informative and very up
to
date reviews of all the latest developments in the world of computing.
The articles are presented in a no nonsense format with plain text on a
white background and links to other related topics of interest. This
site
is perfect for those who like to keep on top of the computer industry
without
having to check continuously changing headlines. |
ZDnet.com
www.zdnet.com |
|
ZDnet
is a website specifically designed for everything computer-related. The
homepage features a vast array of sections including all the latest
computer
news headlines from around the world. Other enticing sections include a
daily competition, 'hot products' and online shopping direct from
ZDnet.
The look is very much like an all-encompassing Internet portal due to
the
masses of text hyper links on the home page, but with a focus on
computer
products of all kinds. |
|
MAGAZINES
|
The
Economist
www.economist.co.uk |
|
The
Economist is the International journal of news, ideas, opinions and
analysis
and its website is equally prestigious. There's plenty of content
pulled
from recent issues along with a fabulous archive of articles from the
past
few years. The detailed reports on specific areas of the world are must
reads for business people and don't miss out on the online version of
the
definitive Economist Style Guide - a guide to good magazine and news
writing. |
FHM
www.fhm.co.uk |
|
FHM
lives in the same market as Loaded but the focus is definitely on
scantily
clad women draped around bits of furniture. The site is professional
and
clean but lacks a sense of humour. What you'll find lots of is photos
of
barely dressed women (including pics from the FHM year 2000 calendar),
what you won't find much of is content. There's a smattering of health
and fitness information and a few online interviews but generally the
site
lacks depth. |
New
Woman Online
www.newwomanonline.co.uk |
|
New
Woman is a magazine for stroppy women and the online version of the
title
reflects that attitude. The amount of content on the site is
impressive;
the latest entertainment news and gossip comes courtesy of Heat
magazine,
and you get the latest women's mag fodder of beauty tips, relationships
advice, celebrity interviews and of course horoscopes. What is
refreshing
about the site is its sense of humour and the interactive features; for
example the site will even write a Dear John letter for you once you've
typed in a few personal details. |
Slate
www.slate.com |
|
Slate
is Microsoft's attempt at producing an online magazine and it's
actually
rather good. Bill Gates managed to poach the former editor of the New
Republic
Michael Kinsley as the editor of Slate and he's produced a learned
US-focused
online political magazine. The roster of journalists used is impressive
and that means the standard of the writing is excellent. The site is
updated
daily with a handy round-up of the major headlines from US and
International
newspapers. More detailed articles are regularly posted and Slate is
always
a good source of info when it comes to coverage of the US presidential
race. |
Suck
www.suck.com |
|
This
rather strange online magazine takes a unique view on US popular
culture,
you'll always be surprised by the content. Topics covered include the
Valerie
Harper Index, which gives you important facts and figures about the
Rhoda
star. The content is very much US focussed, and sometimes Suck is so
closely
linked to American culture that the rest of the world might find it
tricky
to grasp. The Net Moguls section of the Suck site is well worth a visit
if you want to gen' up on the movers and shaker so of the Internet
business. |
Uploaded
www.uploaded.com |
|
Uploaded
is the site 'for men who should net better'. The notorious lad's mag
actually
works well online; the cheeky editorial style and the risqué
content
are all mirrored on the website. Most of the content isn't suitable for
a family audience, many of the regular magazine features are duplicated
on the site but with an interactive edge to them. Be warned though the
live chat areas can be a bit saucy. The design of the site is a bit all
over the place but you have to admire Uploaded's faithfulness to the
Loaded
editorial ethos. |
Salon
www.salon.com |
|
This
stylish magazine is only available on the web and it specialises in
content
about the arts and entertainment and calls itself rather pretentiously
a 'one of a kind gathering for the intellectually curious.' Thankfully
all the articles are exceptionally well written and include film,
theatre,
book and music reviews as well as travel and food articles. The site is
especially good on new technology and the media and the Discussion
areas
are worth investigating, you'll find them thought provoking. |
Urban
75
www.urban75.com |
|
This
underground online only magazine majors on articles about the dance
scene,
football and direct action. This not for profit mag is the work of
influential
UK web designer Mike Slocombe and as you'd expect the site looks great.
The content ranges from short stories and cartoons through to video
clips
from Mike's appearance on the Jenny Jones show. The most infamous
section
of the site is Punch, where you're invited to slap well known celebs -
Peter Mandelson, Bill Clinton, Tamara Beckwith and Richard and Judy
have
all been on the receiving end of a good slapping. |
|
NEWS
DATA
|
CNN
www.cnn.com |
|
The
Momma of American news channels, CNN prides itself with being the first
to get hold of footage of breaking news events and this expertise
floods
onto its website. It's difficult to fully grasp the scope of news that
the site covers (how many dedicated news sites have a section for
books?)
but to its credit it never becomes overpowering. This has to be one of
the most crucial sites for the online viewer. |
AJR
NewsLink
ajr.newslink.org |
|
This
is a news website written by journalists mostly for journalists (you
can
tell because it displays its colleagues' praise down one side of the
screen).
However it does include a fair number of stories that will be of
interest
to those outside the profession. Most of it is US-based, which can be
frustrating
but even if the news doesn't interest you the links to other sites are
worth a bookmark in itself. |
Bloomberg
www.bloomberg.com |
|
work
out how much it will cost you to fund your retirement. Calculate how
much
those dear children will have relieved you of by the time they've
finally
left home, left university and left your bank account alone. Most
painful
of all, click on the mortgage repayment calculators and find out how
much
that loan is really costing you. Turn it around and watch the miracle
of
compound interest turn your £100 savings a month into a tidy nest
egg. |
OneWorld
www.oneworld.org |
|
Not
everyone has forgotten that the Internet is supposed to bring the world
closer together. And so OneWorld aims to provide a news service from a
truly global perspective. The design confidently handles all the
information
and
good use of colour and a country search makes navigating a relatively
simple
affair. Come back repeatedly to find fascinating stories that you are
unlikely
to find elsewhere. |
Datek
Online
www.datek.com |
|
Anyone
who has had dealings with the stock exchange will no doubt have heard
of
Datek. It supplies vast quantities of information regarding what
companies
are doing, what decisions they have made and any announcements they are
planning. Most of it will be of little interest to the man in the
street,
but if you hold any shares it may mean the difference between a holiday
in the Bahamas or a weekend in Southend. |
Government
Information Service
www.open.gov.uk |
|
Launched
under John Major's administration some years ago as part of the 'open
government'
campaign, this site acts as a repository for most of the government
departments
website efforts. Run by the Government Information Service (GIS), you
can
find anything that you are interested in there, from the Department of
Environment, Transport and the Regions latest consultation papers to
the
Office of Fair Trading's view on the price of replica football kits. |
ITN
Online
www.itn.co.uk |
|
Never
one to be outdone by the likes of the BBC, ITN has conjured up its own
dedicated news service. Trying to show that it is worth more than a few
bongs at 11 o'clock every night, this website is a fair collection of
stories
drawn up to roughly the same populist agenda that dominate the main
news
programme. Some of the ideas are similar to the BBC's site, such as a
news
ticker that you download and which then sits on your screen updating
news
constantly throughout the day - a feature that is probably only
suitable
for those surfing at work where the Internet connection is constantly
active. |
NPR
Online
www.npr.org/news |
|
This
is a slightly different news site in that it is run by the National
Public
Radio organisation and so you get to see stories that may not appear
elsewhere
since they appeal only to radio stations. The design is more basic than
other news sites and it doesn't cover as much but it does have the
added
advantage that stories can be played over your speakers. Not much here
for news fiends but then you may pick up on something not found
elsewhere. |
Teletext
www.teletext.co.uk |
|
For
many years now teletext has been part of our national life and was a
forerunner
of the other sites featured here. Many people still turn to their
television
for news and sport updates, but as technology develops, teletext is
determined
to stay ahead of the game. The content of this website is much the same
as you receive on your terrestrial telly, but re-vamped slightly and
presented
in a web-friendly format. |
PBS
Online
www.pbs.org |
|
Another
US-centred site but with a twist. A pleasant, coloured layout brings
you
breaking news but this site's main strength is in its extended
features.
A welcome break from the hectic world of fast news, PBS Online takes a
more esoteric approach to life with such offerings as 'Life beyond
earth:
Are we alone in the universe? Unlikely...' and 'How do the experts
capture
an avalanche on film, and live to try again?' Worth checking out. |
Press
Association News Centre
www.pa.press.net |
|
If you
are a news addict then this is the place to be. The British news
service
from which many other sites get their information, the Press
Association
covers just about every aspect of modern life and is often first with
the
breaking news. The site offers more than just information on the most
recent
events however - its links section alone is worth bookmarking. Also
available
are TV and radio listings, the weather, entertainment and much much
more. |
Reuters
www.reuters.com |
|
Alongside
PA, Reuters is the service from which other newspapers gather much of
their
breaking news. Interestingly, Reuters has gone for a different approach
to most other news services and presents you with a calm, laid-back
site
which initially doesn't appear to have much to offer. This may not
appeal
to those who want a cyber experience but for others it will be a
refreshing
change. Although business news is the order of the day, this is always
worth checking. |
Soccernet
www.soccernet.com |
|
A news
service for football! This will either cause you to flee from the room
screaming or run up a huge phone bill as you find out who's planning to
buy who next season. If you fit the latter category and haven't found
this
site before, you can be certain to visit again and again. Just about
everything
that happens in British football will end up here along with scores,
surveys
and a whole host of other distractions. |
The
Wire
wire.ap.org |
|
Ever
wondered why different papers run different versions of the same story
even though they had access to the same facts? Well, here's your chance
to compare news angles and pick up breaking news at the same time. This
is the newswire for the Associated Press, but rather than simply list
the
stories, you will have to select them from a particular newspaper.
After
a while you learn what each paper feels is important to its readers.
Try
it. |
|
NEWSPAPERS
|
The
Evening Standard
www.thisislondon.co.uk |
|
The
evening paper for London, the Evening Standard has clearly set itself
the
task of becoming the capital's ultimate reference guide. And it is
doing
a fine job. The news mostly concerns London but big stories are
frequently
covered. On top of this it provides a wide-ranging guide to London's
bars,
restaurants and clubs, theatres and whatever else is going on at the
time.
Online tube and bus maps are also a nice touch. |
The
Economist
www.economist.com |
|
Widely
read by the ruling class, The Economist sadly hasn't made a smooth
transition
to the Internet. The design is too simple and a little messy and there
are a few mishaps with the HTML which prove distracting when trying to
read. That said, there is a good amount of material posted (most of
each
issue in fact) and an interesting archive which goes back to 1995. |
Electronic
Telegraph
www.telegraph.co.uk |
|
Not
to be outdone by the other broadsheets striking out online, The
Telegraph
has produced its own site that it hopes readers will visit again and
again.
It is certainly very rich, with plenty of material available for
browsing
in addition to the news material. These extra pieces include a football
section containing more statistics about current players than you could
ever possibly want to know, an expatriate network, entertainment
sections
and a property area. |
Manchester
Evening News
www.manchesteronline.co.uk |
|
The
evening paper for one of England's largest and most exciting cities,
the
Manchester Evening News is not as large as its London equivalent but it
does provide an impressive amount of information. The design is a
little
messy and distracting and it can be difficult finding exactly what
you're
after. However, it covers a lot of ground and it would be hard to find
another single source that covers the city in such detail. |
The
Financial Times
www.ft.com |
|
Recent
TV ads have demonstrated how seriously the Financial Times takes the
Internet
and it shows. In fact, so successful has the FT been at cornering the
business
market that competitors are tearing their hair out to get there share
of
hits. You won't find any daft games or chat rooms on this site but you
will find authoritative, up-to-date news stories from around the world.
It's difficult to see how it can be bettered. |
The
Guardian
www.newsunlimited.co.uk |
|
In terms
of design, The Guardian is streaks ahead of rival papers and it's a
pleasure
to look at, let alone read. The news isn't as strong as other papers
but
this is made up by a great use of Internet technology which whisks you
around the site and never seems dull. The site also extends into areas
that can't be covered so well by the paper edition - the regular sports
updates are particularly good. And mention has to go to cartoonist
Steve
Bell's terrific, surreal and interactive cartoons. |
The
Independent
www.independent.co.uk |
|
The
Independent prides itself on being true to its name and likes to try
and
buck the Fleet Street trends wherever possible. Famously, it refused to
publish pictures of the Royal Family on the basis that it was not in
the
public interest while its fellow broadsheets filled pages with them. |
The Informed
Investor
www.informedinvestor.ic24.net |
|
Since 1972 the
knowing financial professionals have been using the Informed Investor
as
a guide to taxation mitigation schemes and different investment
opportunities.
Now on-line it caters to a wider audience and encompasses interesting
features
on the net, humour, gizmos to download,wine and wine investment as well
as the core financial features. |
The
Irish News
www.irishnews.com |
|
One
of Northern Ireland's main daily newspapers, The Irish Times has played
an important role over the course of The Troubles. This site's sparse
design
however does not give it an authoritative air. Equally, the headlines
are
too drab and don't make you want to read on. However, if you want to
know
more about the Irish conflict, its archive would be a good place to
start. |
The
Times
www.the-times.co.uk |
|
News
International continues its aggressive new media stance with this
websites
designed to show off its flagship title. Almost all the material
contained
in the daily and Sunday papers is available in a web-friendly format.
After
filling out a short registration form, you can view all the material
for
free. Most of the articles are lifted straight from the paper but there
is also a section dedicated to up to the minute news. |
The
Mirror
www.mirror.co.uk |
|
Most
of the Tabloids do not have a website worth mentioning, or are too busy
promoting their own online services to bother providing content of
their
own. The Mirror is an exception, however, and this garish site
accurately
captures the feel of the printed product. Short, snappy stories
accompanied
by large pictures and graphics dominate the news section. |
The
New York Times
www.nytimes.com |
|
Equally
as famous as The Washington Post, The New York Times isn't such a
classy
product. It may be our British tastes, but the design is not very
inspiring,
although the paper's trademark typeface is very clear. Also, the
writing
is a little stilted and concerns itself a little too strongly with
American
pastimes which are unlikely to interest a British reader. There is
still
plenty here to find interesting - as long as you dig deep enough and
don't
get bored before you find it. |
Newsweek
www.newsweek.com |
|
It
can be hard to tell Newsweek and Time magazine apart. Both offer
breaking
news followed by informative analysis. Both feature stunning photo
galleries
and both are a bit too concerned with the US for our liking. In terms
of
websites however Newsweek has the edge. Its design is less tiring on
the
eye and it is easier to find your way around. Definitely a site to come
back to. |
Private
Eye
www.private-eye.co.uk |
|
This
is the site for all satirists and cynics out there. Private Eye is a
hilarious
read and the Internet relieves it from the very cluttered design of its
paper version. The whole mag isn't reproduced here but there's enough
to
keep you entertained until the next issue. Oh, and it has wisely
decided
to keep the two Diana issues (which were banned at the time of her
death)
on
the site.
Have a look and a
laugh. |
Time
wwww.time.com |
|
Famous
throughout the world, Time's electronic sister doesn't disappoint with
a cracking range of stories and analyses on the world's current events.
Admittedly, it is a little too US-centric but then it only makes you
wish
we had a UK edition. Particularly impressive are the photo galleries
which
group photos from a particular place or situation and, with an extended
caption on each, provide a remarkable insight into how people live
around
the world. Outstanding. |
The
Washington Post
washingtonpost.com |
|
One
of the cornerstones of US journalism (it was the Post that exposed the
Watergate affair), The Washington Post is an impressive read. If you
are
interested on the American take on events or you want to find out what
is happening over the water, this should be an early port of call. The
huge column on the left-hand side of the page is a good indication of
how
much information is available. |
|
NEWS
REVIEWS
|
EmergencyNet
News
www.emergency.com/ennday.htm |
|
This
is the ideal site for ambulance chasers. If something terrible is
happening
in the world somewhere it will be reported here. The design is dreadful
but then its main selling point is advertised underneath the title:
'No-nonsense
news and analysis, written by professionals for professionals.' There's
no news angles or human interest diversions here, just cold, stark
facts
and in a way that makes it all the more shocking. |
AlterNet
www.alternet.org |
|
AlterNet
claims to be 'world's only syndication service for independent and
alternative
content'. That seems unlikely somehow, but then it does live up to its
independent and alternative tag. The only problem is that it's all a
bit
of a hit and miss affair. One day you may find the most fascinating
perspective
on current events; another, you'll be clicking away after the first
paragraph.
It's worth keeping an eye on however. |
BBC
Talking Point
news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/talking_point |
|
The
BBC comes up trumps with this outstanding news analysis section of its
news site, called Talking Point. Everything is covered here from sport,
politics, technology as long as there are issues to discuss. The
quality
of writing is also exceptionally high. You get a chance to put forward
your own views on the topics discussed - a great relief for those tired
of soundbite journalism and want a little more in their daily news
digest. |
The
Capitalism Site
www.capitalism.org |
|
The
system under which we all live has taken a pretty severe knocking from
many sources over the years, and this site aims to defend what it sees
as the ultimate guarantor of personal freedom. A question and answer
section
puts the common argument and counter-argument for several topics such
as
government, monopolies and education. Links to relevant books for
purchase
abound, as you would expect from a site that promotes Capitalism. |
Foreign
Wire
www.foreignwire.com |
|
Not
the most beautiful site to look at, but Foreign Wire consistently
manages
to come up with interviews and features that don't appear elsewhere. If
you get past the amateurish white, blue and red design you may find a
few
diamonds. Foreign Wire concerns itself with world affairs and clearly
separates
into News, Comment and Analysis - sections which frequently prove
intriguing
and show up a lack of real knowledge in many other commentators. |
Institute
for War and Peace Reporting
www.iwpr.net |
|
Ever
suspect that we in the West are force-fed propaganda about the wars we
are involved in? Well, we are and the IWPR aims to balance the scales.
If you want to know what is really happening and why, this is the site
to come to. It may be a grim subject to cover but it is also a very
important
one and the analysis behind the world's current conflicts is a real
eye-opener.
This is just the sort of thing the Internet excels at. |
IT-Analysis.com
www.it-analysis.com |
|
There
are websites queuing up to tell you what they make of the latest
announcements
and decisions by computer companies, but IT-Analysis is one of only a
handful
which isn't afraid to stick its neck out and get things right.
Important
breaking news is listed on a side panel, but the bulk of the page is
taken
up with a range of daily analyses. A refreshing change from a lot of
uninformed
IT journalism. |
The
Noam Chomsky Archive
www.zmag.org/chomsky/index.cfm |
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Noam
Chomsky is one of America's most prominent political dissidents. A
renowned
professor of linguistics at MIT, he has authored over 30 political
books
dissecting such issues as U.S. interventionism in the developing world,
the political economy of human rights and the propaganda role of
corporate
media. There is very little that this brilliant author has not
convincingly
attacked over the years; so much so that he is on several assassination
lists. |
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WORLD
NEWS
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China
Daily
www.chinadaily.net |
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This
is another site that will be interesting to keep an eye on. China isn't
exactly renowned for its free press and so you can be sure that
everything
on this site has been sanctioned by those higher up the chain. But
recent
developments have seen China take on capitalist traits and allow
Western
companies into the country. This may change the nature of domestic
reporting
but the different angle taken on foreign stories is likely to remain. |
Africanews.com
www.africanews.com |
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Trying
to cover news in the African continent is a seemingly impossible task
but
Africanews.com has a fair stab at it. You're certainly likely to find
stories
here that don't crop up elsewhere, but UK-based news services will
probably
offer a better account of the big stories. The design is very basic and
news is split into different countries, although there are rarely more
than a few for each region. Good for an occasional peek. |
ArabNet
www.arab.net |
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This
is a great site. Covering every Arab country it contains a vast amount
of useful and in-depth information, all written with a wonderfully dry
sense of humour and a sharp opinion. Frequent rants are the norm and
there
is a genuine sense of pride over the Arab states. With its eye on the
West
as well, ArabNet gives an interesting outsider perspective. Any news
site
that features the A to Z of camels has to be worth a look. |
South
America News
www.southamericadaily.com |
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One
thing that is clear from looking at world news is how self-obsessed we
are in the UK. Little of the news outside Europe and the US concerns
famous
people's hairdos or how a TV gameshow will change the world. So we turn
to South America News (again with a country index) which covers most of
the big stories going on in the continent and gives an interesting
rundown
on how life varies from the UK experience. |
The
Drudge Report
www.drudgereport.com |
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Made
famous for exposing the Monica Lewinsky affair, The Drudge Report has
slowly
slunk back into obscurity. Rather than cracking front page news these
days,
it is more likely to post wild rumour or unimportant snippets. That
said,
it is still likely to come up with something extraordinary sooner or
later
- which is why it is carefully watched not only by Washington but also
by other journalists. The design remains appalling. |
Europe
Online
www.europeonline.com |
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The
idea of a source for all European news was certainly a grand one and
all
credit should go to Europe Online for what it has achieved so far. You
will find a vast amount of data here and it is interesting to see the
differences
between European countries. But the sheer scope of the project causes
the
information to be a little too shallow and it lacks what many other
sites
can offer - the personal touch. |
Express
India
www.expressindia.com |
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Many
of the most popular sites on the Internet have a distinctly Western
feel
with news dominated by what is happening in the UK and particularly the
USA. This site looks and feels very similar to these sorts of sites,
but
most of the news on it is about India. It has an express news service
that
is constantly updated by their correspondents on the ground. The recent
election are analysed in a straightforward and useful way. |
Foreign
and Commonwealth Office
www.fco.gov.uk |
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As part
of the drive to make the various government departments more open and
accountable,
the Foreign and Commonwealth Office launched this site. It goes way
beyond
a standard dolling out of official travel advice, although that is
there
if you want it. There are updates from around the world enabling you to
see what Mr Cook is up to at practically every stage in his official
life,
and you can keep up to speed on the latest diplomatic positions on
current
burning foreign issues. |
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