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< [[SourceWatch:About|About SourceWatch]]

<big>'''The [http://www.prwatch.org '''Center for Media and Democracy'''] (CMD) publishes [[SourceWatch:Purpose|'''SourceWatch' is a free '']]</big>, this collaborative, specialized encyclopedia about of the people, issuesorganizations, and groups issues shaping the public agenda.''' SourceWatch profiles the activities of [[front groups]], including activist groups and government agencies but especially [[public relations firmsprofessionals|PR spinners]], [[front groupsindustry-friendly experts]], [[industry-friendly expertsfunded organizations]] , and [[think tanks]] that try trying to manipulate public opinionon behalf of [[corporations]] or government. We also highlight key public policies they are trying to affect and provide ways to get involved. In addition, SourceWatch contains information about others who help document information about PR spin, such as reporters, academics, and watchdog groups.</big>

==What is SourceWatchTo get started, there's role in increasing public scrutiny?==a link to your left on the basics of how you can help write history. We also have guides, such as [[How to research front groups|how to research front groups]] and uncover [[Resources for studying propaganda|propaganda]] tactics, such as the use of the "[[third party technique]]," as well as [[Research using the web|great insider tips for web researching]].

Launched in 2003, SourceWatch now has <b>{{NUMBEROFARTICLES}} articles</b>, as of today, thanks to interested contributors like you, and over six million new visitors to its pages a year and many returning visitors who rely on our articles regularly. Welcome to the '''SourceWatch''' community! [[Arn Pearson]], Executive Director of the Center for Media and Democracy, publisher of SourceWatch, PRWatch, and BanksterUSA ==What is SourceWatch's role in increasing transparency and public scrutiny?== SourceWatch provides open and simple tools to attract public participation in documenting information about the people, companies, and entities attempting to shape public opinion as well as about select public policy issues. With the experience of the [[Center for Media and Democracy]] (CMD) in researching and writing about spin and propaganda, CMD believes it is vital to a working democracy to increase public scrutiny and public awareness of the people and companies shaping public policy and . We think it is imperative to provide useful information about these key policies as well as and document disinformation regarding about these issues. And, it is important to help people understand options for addressing these problems.

The owner [http://www.prwatch.org Center for Media and Democracy] (CMD) is the publisher of SourceWatch. CMD owns the server and domain names related to SourceWatch is the [[Center for Media and Democracy]]. However, the The articles in SourceWatch are released by their authors under the [[GNU Free Documentation License]], so the articles are [[w:open content|open content]]. See [[SourceWatch:CopyrightsCopyright]] and [[SourceWatch:Readers' FAQ]] for information on how you can use SourceWatch content. (Please note, however, that other Other publications of the Center for Media and DemocracyCMD, such as including our PR Watch web site, remain copyrighted property and should not be used without permission.)

This is a collaborative endeavor. Many people have contributed to different parts of this project, and anyone can do so. ''Including , including you!'' All you need to know is [[SourceWatch:How to edit a page|How to edit a page]]. It would also be good to know what you are talking aboutor to have a passion for the truth about these issues or the public's right to know more about them. You can see who is responsible for the most recent versions of any given page by clicking on the "History" link. ==Getting Started==* First you need to [http://sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Special:Userlogin&type=signup register].* Then you need to know [[SourceWatch:How to log in|how to log in]] and set your preferences. == Contribute an Article or an Edit==* How to follow the [[SourceWatch:Policy|policies for contributors]]* How to [[SourceWatch:Contributing|add an article or edit articles]]* How to [[SourceWatch:Manual of Style|follow our manual of style]]* How to [[SourceWatch: Editorial Policy| stay within the bounds of our editorial policy]]* How to [[SourceWatch:Uploading Images & PDFs|upload images and key documents]]* How to find [[SourceWatch:Help|our ''how to'' pages]]* How to get answers to [[SourceWatch:FAQ|Frequently Asked Questions]]* How to test out how wiki editing and formatting works by playing in the editing [[SourceWatch:Sandbox|sandbox]] ==More Details== * Finding [[Special:Recentchanges|recent changes]]: see the articles that SourceWatch contributors are working on with the most recent changes listed first* Tracking [[Special:Newpages|new articles]]* Requesting [[SourceWatch:Requested articles|an article or information]]* Fixing [[SourceWatch:Find or fix a stub|a stub]], which is the small starting kernel for an article* Getting better [[SourceWatch:Searching|search]] results* Using [[SourceWatch:Categories|categories]] to link articles and build the SourceWatch index ==Errors or Complaints==* Fixing [[Help:How to fix or report an error|errors]] ==Other Policies==* [[SourceWatch: General disclaimer]]

You can learn who is responsible for the most recent versions of any given page by clicking on the "== Some Quick History" link. But remember, if you spot an error in the latest revision and you don't correct it, then you share responsibility for the error. So [[be bold in updating pages]]!==

If you are uncertain or find * July 3, 2004: SourceWatch is [http://www.usemod.com/cgi-bin/mb.pl?BiggestWiki the wording confusingworld's 14th biggest wiki website] by mere article count.* March 10, quote the material on the associated talk page and leave a question for the next more knowledgeable reader or editor2003: SourceWatch is publicly launched. This helps eliminate errors* January 15, inaccuracies or misleading wording more quickly and 2003: SourceWatch is highly appreciated first created.* December 18, 2002: [http://www.prwatch.org PR Watch] editor [[w:Sheldon Rampton|Sheldon Rampton]] attends a conference in Amsterdam hosted by [http://www.world-information.org World-Information.org] and first learns about the communitycreation of [[w:Wikipedia|Wikipedia]]. Thank you!