A couple of months ago, I edited my general news bookmarks down by 90% (it's
easier to do than you think, and simply required in this day and age, I
suggest), and found myself, for what it's worth, left with the following
sites.
Must haves:
http://www.theage.com.au/ I agree with Eugene; arguably Australia's most
thoughtful mainstream daily, Melbourne's broadsheet, *The Age*. Always look
out for Ken Davidson and Bob Ellis - Australia's most readable dissentors.
http://www.abc.net.au/news/default.htm Australia's public service
broadcaster's newspage, replete with heaps of beaut links ranging across
the ABC's many news'n'information services. Extremely quick and reliable
real-time coverage of developing news - maybe the best coolly impartial
as-it-happens teller-like-it-is I know of.
http://www.ahram.org.eg/weekly/ Al Ahram, a dissenting highbrow Cairo-based
weekly, is an absolute beaut. Excellent on world stuff, unbeatable on the
Middle East. A regular outlet for the likes of Said and Chomsky.
http://www.en.monde-diplomatique.fr/ As good as it gets, but some stories
are
denied the free rider.
http://www.greenleft.org.au/ Probably the best nakedly Marxist newspaper
I know of. On the Trot side of the old arguments, but refreshingly tends to
ignore that old infighting stuff. Preaches a little at times, but is usually
on the mark, for mine.
http://www.independent.co.uk Ya get Fisk and Pilger, and you get a social
democratic line less tainted by third-wayist contortions than I think the
Guardian tends to serve up.
http://pilger.carlton.com/ The Great John Pilger hisself.
For Oz-politics buffs, business-buffs and fans of the harshly irreverent:
http://www.crikey.com.au/index.html Smartmouth, ear-close-to-the-ground,
irreverent, slightly right-of-centre liberal, news'n'analysis of mainly
Oz goings-on, but quick to air on big international stories..
For fun:
http://www.chaser.com.au/ Mecilessly takes the piss out of absolutely
everything - does occasionally assume a pretty Australian grasp of
Australian issues. Pithily funny, if not always strictly edifying.
