Communications Resource Guide

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British news corporation servicing the United Kingdom and surrounding areas.

Full profiles provide an instant guide to history, politics and economic background of countries and territories, and background on key institutions. They also include audio and video clips from BBC archives.

The World Factbook provides information on the history, people, government, economy, geography, communications, transportation, military, and transnational issues for 267 world entities. Our Reference tab includes: maps of the major world regions, as well as Flags of the World, a Physical Map of the World, a Political Map of the World, a World Oceans map, and a Standard Time Zones of the World map.

Locate information about countries of the world from the United States government and selected commercial and nonprofit websites.

CountryWatch is an information provider for corporations, government agencies, universities, schools, libraries and individuals needing up-to-date news and information on each of the recognized countries of the world.

Information Please has been providing authoritative answers to all kinds of factual questions since 1938—first as a popular radio quiz show, then starting in 1947 as an annual almanac, and since 1998 on the Internet. Includes maps, flags, history, current ruler, area, population, capital, largest cities, languages, ethnicity/race, religion, literacy rate, economy and government.

FactCheck.org is a project of the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania. They are a nonpartisan, nonprofit “consumer advocate” for voters that aims to reduce the level of deception and confusion in U.S. politics. They 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. Fact Check is similar to Politifact in their coverage and they provide excellent details. The only drawback is they lack the simplicity of Politifact.

The Washington Post has a very clear left-center bias and this is reflected in their fact checks. Their fact checks are excellent and sourced; however their bias is reflected in the fact that they fact check right wing claims more than left. Otherwise the Washington Post is a good resource.

PolitiFact is a fact-checking website that rates the accuracy of claims by elected officials and others who speak up in American politics. PolitiFact is run by editors and reporters from the Tampa Bay Times, an independent newspaper in Florida. Politifact is simply the best source for political fact checking. Won the Pulitzer Prize.

Snopes has been the definitive Internet reference source for urban legends, folklore, myths, rumors, and misinformation for a long time. Snopes is also usually the first to report the facts.

For over three decades CPJ has worked on behalf of the hundreds of journalists who are attacked, imprisoned or worse each and every year. CPJ boasts a network of about 40 experts around the world to track, monitor and then act on press freedom violations as they occur. CPJ’s research staff buffers the action taken via strict documentation of such attacks.

Headquartered in Washington, D.C., The Fourth Estate endeavors to contribute to healthy societies by fostering, supporting, and incubating a sustainable and vibrant free press. The Fourth Estate promotes public interest journalism as a resource and force of good in a democratic society. The organization boasts thousands of members working to advance and advocate for a strong and responsible free press and the public’s right to trustworthy news and information.

"The Place Where News Happens" lives up to that moniker as working journalists utilize the Washington, DC headquarters each and every day. The National Press Club boasts over 3500 members, offers over 2,000 events a year and has over a quarter-million folks enter its doors each year to its amazing facility.

This global journalism force includes in its mission “(to)fortify journalism’s role in a free society” and it strives to do so by learning from the past while keeping an eye on the future with its many programs and massive outreach. Poynter is particularly on point when it comes to truth in journalism by creating the International Fact-Checking Network and Pulitzer Prize-winning PolitiFact.

WAN-IFRA, in existence since 1948, works to protect journalism and a free press. Its global network consists of 3,000 news publishing companies and technology entrepreneurs, and 80 member publisher associations representing a remarkable 18,000 publications in 120 countries.