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CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES


Almanac of Policy Issues

• "The Almanac of Policy Issues is an independent public service not affiliated with any particular issue or cause;" it attempts "... to present all sides of each issue and to do so in an unbiased, journalistic format"
• Links to over 70 topics organized under the following categories: criminal justice, culture/society, economic issues, education, environment, government operations, healthcare, social welfare, world (foreign affairs/national security)
• Each category links to the following: directories, news, federal agencies, associations and interest groups (from across the ideological spectrum), statistics, articles
• Each sub-topic offers an overview and resources/links which follow the format organized by category
• Searchable
• One of the best unbiased issues/policy sites; a wide variety of topics, with very even-handed coverage


Alternative Press Center (APC)

• "The Alternative Press Center (APC) is a non-profit collective dedicated to providing access to and increasing public awareness of the alternative press"
• "Online Directory" links to over 425 publications (many of which belong to the Independent Press Association); the profile of each publication includes contact/subscription information, e-mail address (when available), editorial staff directory, "readership characteristics," "Indexed in," link to home page; browsable by title/subject
• "Alternative Viewpoints on the Internet" is a directory of links to over 80 topics on human rights, international relations, gender issues, business, the environment, social issues; comprehensiveness of links vary according to topic
• Most links are to advocacy/public interest associations/organizations; accompanied by excellent annotations
• Highly recommended; this excellent site is one of the best — if not the best — website currently available for alternative publications and viewpoints


Best Information on the Net: Hot Paper Topics

• Maintained by Stella Herzig, O'Keefe Library, St. Ambrose University
• Links to sites for 23 controversial issues; also links to other "hot topics" websites
• Brief annotations accompany most links
• Also links to resources by major, student resources, faculty resources, disability resources
• Well-chosen topics; great as a starting point


Controversial Topics/Current Issues

• Maintained by the Schauerman Library, El Camino College (ECC)
• A directory of Internet, print and database resources located at the Schauerman Library
• Print resources listed should be available at many academic libraries or large public libraries; databases are restricted to the ECC academic community, although many may be found at academic libraries or large public libraries
• The outstanding feature of this site is "Selected Web Resources," an excellent selection of links to some of the best controversial topics/current issues sites in one place


Controversial Topics Resource Guide

• Maintained by H. Beggan for North Harris College Library
• Tutorial with links on conducting research: finding a topic, finding websites, finding books and government documents, finding periodical articles, evaluating sources
• Discusses print resources; links to other "hot topics" indexes/websites
• One of the better brief guides for planning and conducting research in this area


Ethics Updates

• Maintained by Lawrence M. Hinman, University of San Diego
• This site "... is intended to provide updates on current literature, both popular and professional, that relate to ethics"
• "Ethical Theory" links to various "schools" of ethical thought and a discussion forum
• "Applied Ethics" links to the following topics: abortion, bioethics/reproductive technology, death penalty, euthanasia, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, gender/sexism, animal rights, poverty, world hunger, the environment, military ethics
• Each "Applied Ethics" topic contains the following: websites (may include court decisions, statistical resources), online full-text articles ("pro" and "con"), case studies, discussion forums, videos (when available)
• Excellent; this is one of the best — if not the — best resources for the "applied ethics" topics which it covers


Facts on File Reference Suite

• Johnson & Wales University database restricted to the J&W community and accessible from the "Databases" link on J&W Univ. Library's homepage
• Sponsored by Facts on File World News Digest
• "Issues and Controversies" provides access to a wide variety of controversial topics, which are accessible through "Indexes" (alphabetically or by topic)
• The following information is provided for most (but not all) topics: overview, related articles, key news events, biographies, bibliography, contact information, keywords/points
• Also provides access to statistical information and source documents
• Includes archives for historic events since 1940, heads of state/government leaders, country profiles, world press links
• Complements Opposing Viewpoints
• Excellent source for issues research and additional news information


Global Issues That Affect Everyone

• Created and maintained by Anup Shah
• With "... over 5,000 links to external articles, web site reports and analysis," this site provides critical commentary and evaluation for numerous controversial issues
• Concentrates on issues which Mr. Shah feels have been given inadequate attention by the mainstream media
• Broad categories include trade-related issues, geopolitics, environmental issues, human rights issues
• A total of 30 sub-topics with in-depth links constitutes the bulk of the site
• One of the best sites for analysis of worldwide issues/controversies; analysis is thorough and insightful


Homework Center — Social Issues

• Created and maintained by Kate Houston Mitchoff for the Multnomah County Library
• Links to information for 44 controversial/contemporary issues
• Topics may link to meta-sites, "pro/con" commentary, court decisions/legislation
• Short annotations accompany links
• Although created for the research needs of middle school and high school students, this site is very useful for anyone conducting research on controversial issues of the day


"Hot" Religious Topics"

• Sponsored by "ReligiousTolerance.org"
• Links to over 40 "currently active conflicts" with ethical, moral or religious implications
• A "conflict" may contain an overview, basic facts, public opinion, laws/regulations, statistics, links to associations/organizations representing both sides of the issue
• Very useful for its provision of a balanced approach to "conflicts" and the inclusion of topics not often available elsewhere (cremation vs. burial, medical treatment vs. prayer, spanking)


Infodome — Hot Topics Supersites

• Maintained by Laura Hudson for San Diego State University Library
• Provides links to 13 "supersites" for analysis/commentary on controversial issues
• Broad content areas include civil liberties, the environment, ethics, feminism, the news, social issues
• Excellent annotations accompany each link
• Great source for accessing some of the best controversial issue gateway sites in one place


Issue Guides

• Sponsored by OneWorld, "a unique network for people and groups across the globe engaged in human rights and sustainable development"
• Consists of 41 guides on a variety of economic, environmental, political, scientific and social issues/controversies
• Each guide consists of a short, informative essay with links to full-text articles from public policy and internationally-orient journals; "over 75,000 articles, organized by topics, country and region"
• Provides cross-referenced links to related guides within the site
• Excellent source for provocative articles about issues/controversies and their impact on nations


Links to Controversial Topics/Resources

• Sponsored by Morgana's Observatory
• This eclectic page provides links to a number of unusual sites, including such esoterica as alleged AIDS testing on "expendable" people, the Port Chicago nuclear controversy, the "Unabomber's Manifesto" and other conspiracy-oriented sites
• This page contains data outside of conventional sources; it's a good example of the numerous conspiracy sites on the internet


Nationalissues.com

• "Nationalissues.com is a non-partisan issue-oriented website" for "... individuals, voters and students" who want "... summary information" and a "compilation of expert views" on the following issues: education, social security, gun control, taxes, foreign policy, defense, the President/Cabinet
• Striving to provide "No Spin, Just the Facts" analysis of each issue is taken from advocacy groups, "think tanks", and news resources from across the ideological spectrum
• Analysis of each issue includes the following: an overview, presidential policy, "pro and con" viewpoints, "Facts & Figures" (statistics, reports), additional resources (links to media, organizations, pertinent websites), glossary
• Excellent; a great example of a website which limits the number of topics it investigates but does an extensive, outstanding job on covering its chosen topics


Online Backgrounders

• Sponsored by Online NewsHour
• Provides background news reports and discussions/interviews from PBS's News Hour
• Links to over 25 national news categories, including the economy, the environment, health, law, politics, science, business and cyberspace
• Also links to international news
• Most (but not all) reports, discussions/interviews are archived from 1997 to the present
• Very useful for perspectives on a wide variety of issues; interviews are especially useful


Opposing Viewpoints

• Johnson & Wales University database restricted to the J&W community and accessible from the "Databases" link on J&W Univ. Library's homepage
• Directory of research materials for over 100 sites for controversial social, economic, health, legal, and environmental issues
• The following information is provided for each issue: "Viewpoints," "Reference," "Magazines & Newspapers," and "Websites
• Some issues, when warranted, receive additional resources for statistical data, images, "primary documents"
• Searchable by subject, keyword, full-text
• Includes "Help" and "Search Tips" features
• Complements Facts on File Reference Suite
• This excellent resource is comprehensive, easy-to-navigate and is frequently updated


Opposing Views

• Sponsored by the University of Washington Libraries
• Sites are categorized by the following: "General Sites," "Multi-Issue Politicized Sites," and "Single Issue Sites"
• "General Sites" links to websites/journals which "... present a wide variety of views on many current issues"
• "Multi-Issue Politicized Sites" link to websites/journals which "present news coverage from a particular point of view, i.e., a political party, a religious group, an ethnic population, etc."
• "Single Issue Sites" link to advocacy groups for a limited number of controversial topics
• One of the best sites for quick links to many of the major American institutions involved in public affairs and opinion


Public Agenda Online

• Sponsored by Public Agenda, "... a nonpartisan, nonprofit public research and citizen education organization"
• Links to 22 controversial topics in the social sciences, health, education, the environment, government
• Each topic contains the following: "Understanding the Issue" (factual, non-partisan commentary, recent news coverage, opposing viewpoints, research studies, organizations) and "Public Opinion" (polling data, public opinion on policy options, public opinion volatility on the issue)
• Each topical analysis also includes a "Fact File" which includes statistical information, graphs, timelines, surveys relating to the issue; this feature in itself is of great value for issue analysis
• E-mail alerts available
• Highly recommended; one of the best sources for the topics under consideration, since the degree of comprehensiveness is unmatched


Social Issues

• Maintained by the San Antonio Public Library (SAPL)
• Directory of sites for 23 categories of controversial issues in the economic, environmental, health, civil liberties and social areas
• Each category's links are accompanied by short, incisive annotations
• Also links to "General" sites for social issues
• Links to SAPL's "Current Events" and "News and Media" pages
• While not extensive, this excellent site's links are among the best, most essential currently available; easy-to-navigate


Social Issues and Social Welfare Resources

• Sponsored by the Internet Public Library (IPL)
• Links to over 40 social issue/social welfare websites, most of which are associations for specific causes/issues
• Links are accompanied by excellent annotations
• Also links to IPL sub-pages for animal rights, crime, disabilities, housing/poverty, human rights, hunger, literacy, philanthropy/social service, public safety, social work
• Also links to associations, magazines on social issues/social welfare
• In keeping with the IPL tradition, this is a great place to begin research and to become familiar with standard resources in the field


Yahoo! Society and Culture>Issues and Causes

• Sponsored by Yahoo! Inc.
• Topical directory to over 90 issues/causes with over 5,100 links
• Brief annotations accompany many links
• One of the most user-friendly search engines for quick links to a wide variety of issues


Websites discussed on this page are for informational purposes only. Johnson & Wales University Library is not responsible for the accuracy, content, or stability of any websites linked to this page.

Compiled by Rick Keogh 11/01; revised 11/03; links last checked 10/07

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