Opinion vs. News
- Interactive Media Bias ChartThe Interactive Media Bias Chart® is a data visualization that displays measures of news (and “news-like”) articles and sources generated by analysts and staff of Ad Fontes Media.
Database Search Tips
It's easy to get overwhelmed with too many results in a news database search.
Try searching just the lead/headline in Newsbank or abstract in Proquest NewsStream for more relevant results.
Limit your sources by geography to get news from the country you're researching.
Look for opinion stories to identify the "pro" and "con" arguments. Opinion stories may be labeled:
- "Editorial"
- "Op-Ed"
- "Commentary"
- "Column"
Finding News Articles
Browse Current News
The following are popular single news publications.
- New York Times This link opens in a new windowFull access to NYTimes.com and NYTimes mobile apps, including breaking news articles, blogs, videos and interactive features.To register, go to www.nytimes.com/passes & log in with your Cal Maritime email (@csum.edu). Renew once per year by logging in at www.nytimes.com/passes
Popular News Magazines
The following are online versions of popular news magazines.
- TIME"Breaking news and analysis from TIME.com. Politics, world news, photos, video, tech reviews, health, science and entertainment news."
- Newsweek"Newsweek provides in-depth analysis, news and opinion about international issues, technology, business, culture and politics."
- U.S. News & World Report"U.S. News & World Report publishes news, opinion, consumer advice, rankings, and analysis."
News Databases
The following are databases offering large collections of news publications from around the world.
- NewsStream (ProQuest) This link opens in a new windowSearch the most recent global news content, as well as archives which stretch back into the 1980s featuring newspapers, newswires, blogs, and news sites in active full- text format
- NewsBank This link opens in a new windowA comprehensive news collection useful for exploring issues and events at the local, regional, national and international level. Source types include print and online-only newspapers, blogs, newswires, magazines, broadcast transcripts and videos.
- Ethnic News Watch This link opens in a new windowAn interdisciplinary, bilingual (English and Spanish) database of newspapers, magazines and journals from ethnic, minority and native presses.
News Commentary Sites
Non-Partisan
- AllSidesSee issues and political news with news bias revealed by non-partisan, crowd-sourced ratings.
- Media Bias/Fact CheckMedia Bias/Fact Check provides ratings for over 2,000 media sources on a scale from Left, Left-Center, "Least Biased," Right-Center, and Right Bias. There are also categories for Pseudoscience and conspiracy theories, and satire.
- FactCheck.orgFactCheck.org is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. Its goal is to "monitor the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews and news releases."
Partisan
- Fox NewsEditorial journalism and commentary with a conservative slant.
- Mother Jones"A reader-supported nonprofit news organization" with a liberal perspective
- The NationA weekly magazine covering politics and culture. Self-described as "the flagship of the left."
- National ReviewMagazine and web site for conservative news, commentary, and opinion
- Salon"Salon covers breaking news, politics, entertainment, culture, and technology through investigative reporting, commentary, criticism, and provocative personal essays." Progressive slant.
- SlateThis liberal site focuses on commentary about politics, news, business, technology, and culture.
- Town HallPolitical commentary and analysis from conservative columnists