How to Get Information on Important Issues

There are more sources of news available than ever before. But much of what you find on television, on the radio, on social media, or on the Internet is biased at best and false at worst. Get your news from several different sources to be better informed.
 
Although it is more fun to visit websites or read magazines that share your personal bias, you will benefit from including at least one or two sources from the “conventional” list below. Entertaining progressive news sources are suggested for both information and stress reduction through laughter. The conventional news sources may have a pro-Big Business slant, lack gender or racial balance, or get some stories wrong. The news monitoring organizations below can make you more aware of these problems.
 
Reliable Conventional News Sources
Your local newspaper - Quad City Times, Rock Island Argus/Moline Dispatch, North Scott Press
NPR – National Public Radio
PBS – Public Broadcasting Service
BBC – British Broadcasting Corporation
Al Jazeera
Christian Science Monitor
The Atlantic
The Guardian
The Washington Post
The New York Times
The New Yorker
NBC/ABC/CBS
 
Progressive News Sources
Slate
The Nation
MSNBC (see especially the Rachel Maddow Show)
The Huffington Post
Mother Jones
 
Entertaining Progressive News Sources
The Hightower Lowdown (Jim Hightower) – monthly newsletter
The Daily Show
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
Last Week Tonight – John Oliver
Real Time with Bill Maher
The Stephanie Miller Show – Monday-Friday radio show, podcast available or stream online
 
News Monitoring Organizations
FAIR (Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting)
Media Matters for America
Columbia Journalism Review

PACG Issue Forums

Civil Rights

Drug Policy