The following is a brief listing of helpful publications, books, websites and radio stations that are alternative sources of media, or offer a means of communication that leaves the mainstream. The list covers independent media sources from around the world.

Websites

• The Association for Progressive Communications

  The Association for Progressive Communications, or APC, is an international organisation that is dedicated to helping groups learn to use information technologies to develop their movements and to establish and support progressive Internet Service providers. Groups that are working for peace, human rights and protection of the environment are members of this network, created in 1990, with the idea of combining knowledge and networking at the grassroots level. The APC has contacts on the local, national and international levels, promoting the skills necessary to use information technologies such as the Internet to increase the spread of information and communication. Countries currently in the network include Argentina, Australia, Bulgaria, Curacao, the Czech Republic, Ecuador, Hungary, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Romania, Senegal, Slovakia, Ukraine, UK, Uruguay, and the USA. See: http://www.apc.org

• The International Progressive Publications Network

  The International Progressive Publications Network is a search engine website which provides listings of alternative media sources from all over the world. Searches can be done by category, continent, and country. Categories include political, economic, cultural, human rights, ecological, peace, labor, and minority rights. The website also offers something called Alternative Media Watch, which includes a listing of alternative media sources as well as interesting articles extracted from various sources. The IPPN even does a watch on mainstream media. See: http://www.ippn.org .

• IWPR

  The London-based Institute of War and Peace Reporting is widely known for its award-winning website and electronic publications, produced in nine languages. Established circa 1990 - and initially publishing print materials on the emerging wars in ex-Yugoslavia - IWPR now runs major programmes in Afghanistan, the Balkans, the Caucasus, Central Asia and Iraq and manages a special reporting project on war crimes tribunals. The Institute also provides training and resources for journalists working in conflict zones. See: http://www.iwpr.net

• Znet/ZMagazine

  Znet, the accompanying website to Z Magazine, is an online resource and forum for activist and others interested in change. Znet claims to have a variety of uses including getting information, exchanging ideas, developing new political programs and unity, engaging in online activism, acclimating to and learning new technologies, meeting new people, and most importantly enjoying and educating yourself. Zmag even holds a nine-day school every other year that teaches how to start and produce alternative media. Contact: Zmag, 18 Millfield St, Woods Hole, MA 02543, USA (+1 508 548 9063; http://www.zmag.org ).

• Better World Links

  Better World Links is an easy to use website that features a very large list of links to various websites. Categories include military, peace, education, environment, politics, human rights, education and others. Advertisement free, this website also offers a highlights section with comments and important news. See: http://www.betterworldlinks.org .

• Indymedia network

  International network of autonomous, activist-organised online news services. Pioneered “open-publishing” concept, enabling anyone with internet access to publish their news directly to Indymedia sites. Operating since 1999 there are now more than 130 local Indymedia projects spread across the world. See http://www.indymedia.org

• Protest Net

  Protest Net is an independent website of protestors around the world spreading information by creating their own media. The activists wish to make their activities public knowledge and generate a larger movement. The website includes listings of protests in Washington, DC, to Paris and Brussels. The site also includes access to “the activists handbook”, a newsletter, information and interesting links. See: http://www.protest.net

• A Womans Place

  A Womans Place is a new project that utilises the media and education to shed light on gender equity and social change. The project uses the “lens of gender” to break down pre-conceived notions of gender and place. It is an international group of women who have come together to create an international documentary series and outreach program, which uses perspective to generate an alternative view on gender. See: http://www.zaza.com/awomansplace .

Books

Jamming the Media
Jamming the media is a 350-page “handbook” written by Gareth Branwyn. The guidebook includes sections on how to be a hacker, how to use television cameras, film in Hi-8, run pirate radio stations, develop websites, create magazines, and many other creative ways to “jam the media”. The innovative style of the text has many pictures, visual instructions and examples. He wishes to encourage people to take back their means of communication and use them in better ways. The book is available online, at bookstores and through Chronicle.

Publications

• Pogrom
  Pogrom is a German magazine published every two months. It discusses minority groups and the rights of people who are in danger. About 40 pages in length Pogrom contains lengthy, in-depth articles and a large number of photographs. Contact: Gesellschaft fur Bedrohte Voler, Postfach 2024, D-37010 Gottingen, Germany (+49 551 499 060, email; info@gfbv.de).
• LOLApress
  LOLApress is a print magazine with editors spanning three continents. Based in South Africa, this is a bilingual magazine written in both English and Castilian Spanish. A feminist press, LOLA focuses on issues from all over the world, from war and terrorism to gender issues and AIDS. The magazine offers large amounts of text and artistic images. Contact: LOLApress Europe, Greifswalder Str 4, 10405, Berlin, Germany (+49 30 204 50 240; email lolaeurope@lolapress.org; http://www.lolapress.org ).
• Nuclear Monitor
  The WISE/NIRS Nuclear Monitor, based in Amsterdam, is a newsletter publication founded by the World Information Service on Energy and the Nuclear Information and Resource Service, to bring worldwide information about nuclear power, radioactive waster, radiation and energy issues. The newsletter is published 20 times a year, and is also available in Castilian Spanish. Contact: Nuclear Monitor, c/o WISE Amsterdam, PO Box 59636, 1040 LC Amsterdam, Netherlands.
• Pacific News Bulletin
  The Pacific News Bulletin is published, in English, for the Nuclear Free and Independent Pacific movement. Printed in the Fiji Islands, this newsletter discusses nuclear and war issues that effect the island nations of the Pacific Ocean. It covers both local news and global happenings. Articles range from information on civilians exposed to nerve gas in the US, and the Islands' own struggle for media freedom. Contact: Pacific News Bulletin, 83 Amy Street, Toorak, Private Mail Bag, Suva, Fiji Islands
• Peace Magazine
  Peace Magazine, based in Canada, is a publication that wishes to find solution to conflicts throughout the world. Providing a variety of in depth articles, Peace Magazine offers different views and sources of information for that quarters chosen topic. Regular departments even include and editorial, letters, reviews and important newsworthy short sections. The magazine seems to be open to its readers input. Contact: Peace Magazine, Box 248 Station P, Toronto, Ontario M5S 2S7, Canada.
• Peace Movement Aotearoa
  Peace Movement Aotearoa is a monthly newsletter from the movement. Based in New Zealand, it is made up of shorter articles that cover recent updates and new arising information, usually focused in the war in Iraq, or other military actions. The newsletter also involves issues that are important in New Zealand, and represents some of the countries views on global issues. Contact: Peace Movement Aotearoa, PO Box 9314, Wellington, Aotearoa/New Zealand, (+64 4 382 8129; fax 382 8173; http://www.converge.org.nz/pma ).
• The Right to Refuse to Kill
  Published in Barcelona, Spain, The Right to refuse to kill is a publication from the European Bureau for Conscientious Objection. This newsletter covers a specific topic, but on a very large scale, discussing new actions of Conscientious objection as well as further developments of actions already in progress. There is a combination of straightforward information and opinion based pieces.Contact: European Bureau for Conscientious Objection, 81A Avenue Jan Stobbaerts, B-1030 Brussels, Belgium +32 2 215 79 08; fax 245 62 97; email ebcobrussels@ifias.net).
• The Other Israel
  The Other Israel is a 12-page newsletter published for the Israeli Council for Israeli-Palestinian peace. The newsletter covers not only the conflict, but also topics such as the war in Iraq and how it affects issues in Israel and Palestine. It is printed in English and focuses on bringing both positive and negative news to its readers. Contact: The Other Israel, PO Box 2542, Holon 58125, Israel (+97 3 5565804; email otherisr@actcom.co.il ).

Radio

• Pacifica Radio

  Pacifica Radio, KPFK, is a US radio station dedicated to bringing the community and the world, news and information that is not normally broadcast, and to spread understanding of interracial, inter-religious and international problems. The station is also involved in the creative process of amateur artists. KPFK is available live on the Internet. Pacifica news was created over 50 years ago to voice minority viewpoints, and now has multiple stations that promote freedom of speech. See: http://www.kpfk.org , and at http://www.pacificaarchives.org .

• Democracy Now!

  DN! is a US national, daily, independent, award-winning news programme airing on over 140 stations in North America. Pioneering the largest public media collaboration in the US, Democracy Now! is broadcast on Pacifica, community, and National Public Radio stations, public access cable television stations, satellite television (on Free Speech TV, channel 9415 of the DISH Network), shortwave radio and the internet. Democracy Now! has also has a daily two-hour War and Peace Report, developed to meet a growing demand for trustworthy, independent news and information. See http://www.democracynow.org/

• The Free Radio Network

  The Free Radio Network is a website set up to link listeners to pirate radio all over the world. In addition, FRN offers to guides to pirate radio, posts messages, offers workshops and have feature articles. This is an excellent source for exploring the options of pirate radio. See http://www.frn.net

Film

• Undercurrents

  Kicking off in 1993 with the introduction of the Criminal Justice Bill, Undercurrents decided to bring an alternative form of news to the community - via videocassette. The group, based in Oxford, Britain, also has a 1000-hour grassroots video archive. Other projects include video activist handbooks and documentaries on topics from the decline of rural village life, to madness. One of the most recent projects saw Undercurrents teaming up with Peace News to create Informed Dissent, a CD-ROM of anti-war micro-documentaries.
  Contact: Undercurrents, 16B Cherwell Street, Oxford OX4 1BG, Britain (+44 1865 203661; email underc@gn.apc.org; http://www.undercurrents.org ).

• Forward Films

  Forward Films is a company that makes videos about oppression and the true human condition. The company hopes to incite change by telling true stories and documenting the lives of real people. The latest project explores the combination of artists and activists and how they express their strong content to the world. See: http://www.forwardfilms.org