Two quick, free sites that’ll save you time when trying to catch up on the news.
1. WatchingAmerica.com: A chance to read what journalists in other countries are saying about the United States. In the wonderful E-media Tidbits column on March 9 (yes, almost two weeks ago — you should be reading it more regularly), Poynter Online senior editor Steve Outing wrote:
WatchingAmerica.com is one of those websites that makes me think, “Why is it that no one has done this yet?” Here’s the concept: Provide links to articles from news websites around the world written about the U.S. And for articles written in other languages, translate them into English. The site provides an interesting view for Americans of what the rest of the world thinks of them and their government.
It’s not perfect, but I strongly recommend it as a place you should visit at least once a week.
2. OpinionSource.com: This is a way to keep up with the opinion pages of major newspapers. It provides one-paragraph summaries of op-ed pieces that arrive via e-mail. You can choose one or more of five newsletters: United States (The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post); Europe (Financial Times); China (China Daily, China Economic Times, People’s Daily, South China Morning Post); and Middle East (Al Ahram, Al Jazeera, Haaretz).
Here’s an example of a summary, from a Tom Friedman column in the NYT:
A Nobel for Sistani
Thomas L. Friedman
3/20/2005
Iraqi Shiite communal leader Ayatollah Sistani should receive the Nobel Peace Prize, says the author. It was Sistani who insisted on a direct national election in Iraq and stressed it should not be postponed in the face of the Baathist-fascist insurgency. He wants to build Iraq by and for Iraqis, rejects religious fundamentalism, and rejects the rule of Iraq by the elite or self-appointed clergy. As a result, he is making Iraq stronger.
Thomas L. Friedman is a regular New York Times columnist.
Link to full text in primary source.
I haven’t tried any of the other regional newsletters, but I came to rely on the U.S. one during a trip last week to Panama where I wasn’t spending much time online. The once-a-day newsletter helped me keep in touch with some of the big opinion pieces.
Heck, if I had to go to a pretentious Manhattan cocktail party, I could pretend to be in the know with the best of ’em. Would love to hear what others think of the other regional newsletters.
Your turn: tell me about sites you like at poynter@sree.net.
A WORKSHOP FOR YOU: My Columbia weekend workshop on building a personal Web site (April 2 & 3, 2005)
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