An A-to-Z Guide to News on the Web

The digital revolution has changed the world in innumerable ways, but one idea has remained constant from the time of Gutenberg to our time: knowledge is power.

In the information age, that knowledge comes, frequently, from the Internet. The better that source of knowledge — its credibility, its clarity, its utility — the greater the power. With almost incalculable speed, new Web sites, new sources of knowledge, are becoming available to anyone with access to a computer.

But where does one turn to find the best Web sites, the most credible information? Consider the Source: A Critical Guide to 100 Prominent News and Information Sites on the Web answers that question in thorough, thoughtful, and opinionated reviews of 100 prominent news and information sites available through the Internet, offering a candid and comprehensive analysis of the good, the bad, and the unusual.

Anyone who uses the Internet, from professional researcher to casual Web surfer, can save a great deal of time searching for the most reliable sites. The book also serves as a handy introduction for those with little or no knowledge of what awaits them once they log on.

Though these evaluations are intended to help readers gain quick insight into each site, they are far from the whole story. Each review includes an "Overview," focusing on a site's origins and development; "What You'll Find There," which assesses a site's main features; "Why You Should Visit," offering reasons to (or not to) check in with the site; "Keep This In Mind," which highlights lesser-known aspects of the site's history or ideological leanings; and "Off the Record," featuring factoids off the beaten path of the information superhighway. Each of the 100 sites gets its own chapter (or review), which ends with an overall rating from zero to five newspapers (rather than usual star-rating system).

This at-a-glance, A-to-Z guide can be read front to back or dipped into anytime for quick and ready reference. Consider the Source represents a new approach to evaluating news in the digital age, providing readers with a clear and detailed road map to the crowded information superhighway. The reviews will remain relevant and updated here when sites discussed in the book change in some significant way, from design to content.

Knowledge is power — so arm yourself with the knowledge of where to get the best of every type of news on the Web. You'll save countless hours and discover a new source of power to plug into: the power of the information age.