NEWS ONLINE

So, what is the alternative to mainstream news? The Web is rife with alternative news sites and INTERNET PROSPECTOR will take a look at a few of them.

CONTENTS:

• Inter Press Service (IPS)
• Independent Media Center (Indymedia)
• AlterNet.org

INTER PRESS SERVICE (IPS)

"Inter Press Service, the world's leading provider of information on global issues, is backed by a network of journalists in more than 100 countries, with satellite communication links to 1,200 outlets. IPS news stories concentrate on issues such as the gap between rich and poor, international trade negotiations, human rights, refugees and international migration patterns, conflict and peace-keeping, environmental protection and sustainable development, population issues and the international debt crisis."

Once you make a selection, you will find a search function for that topic, including world news, critical issues, regional services (select a region of the world) and human rights. The search page is a boon to the site. You can perform basic Boolean searches and also use the special search functions -- like limiting your search by date, searching multiple information bases simultaneously and choosing the language you use.

http://www.ips.org

INDEPENDENT MEDIA CENTER (INDYMEDIA)

Established in 1999, "the Independent Media Center is a network of collectively run media outlets" that provide a venue for alternative journalism. A bastion of open publishing, "Indymedia provides a public forum for independent journalists and media organizations to post their own articles about myriad issues." There are around 50 "media centers" around the globe. Learn more about this nonprofit's project by visiting the home site.

http://www.indymedia.org/

ALTERNET.ORG

A project of the Independent Media Center, AlterNet.org opened its doors on the Web in 1998 and boasts a database of 7,000 news stories from more than 200 sources. Some of the content includes the War on Iraq, Rights & Liberties, MediaCulture, DrugReporter and EnviroHealth. Explore Action Items, Discussion, Columnists entries, audio stories and a PDA version of the AlterNet news, as well as the Top Stories and the content logs. Sign up to receive AlterNet headlines via e-mail, search the site or check out the archives (select the date, from 1994 to the present, from a drop-down menu). This issue-focused news site is worth the read.

http://www.alternet.org/index.html

Pamela J. Smith

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