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'''SourceWatch''' is a free encyclopedia of people, issues, and groups shaping the public agenda, including activist groups and government agencies but especially [[public relations firms]], [[front groups]], [[industry-friendly experts]] and [[think tanksSourceWatch:About|About SourceWatch]] that try to manipulate public opinion. It catalogues descriptions and details of as well as the criticisms that are made of these groups from different perspectives.

A number <big>'''The [http://www.prwatch.org '''Center for Media and Democracy'''] (CMD) publishes [[SourceWatch:Purpose|'''SourceWatch''']]</big>, this collaborative, specialized encyclopedia of individuals and the people, organizations have previously attempted to compile similar guides , and directories, but issues shaping the sheer number of ever-changing groups has prevented anyone from developing a comprehensive listpublic agenda. The goal of ''' SourceWatch is to create profiles the largest and most upactivities of [[front groups]], [[public relations professionals|PR spinners]], [[industry-tofriendly experts]], [[industry-date guide in historyfunded organizations]], both in terms and [[think tanks]] trying to manipulate public opinion on behalf of breadth and depth[[corporations]] or government. We also want SourceWatch highlight key public policies they are trying to affect and provide ways to become a reliable resourceget involved. It is an ambitious goalIn addition, SourceWatch contains information about others who help document information about PR spin, such as reporters, academics, and it may take many years to achieve itwatchdog groups.

== What is To get started, there's 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 "disinformation[[third party technique]],"? ==as well as [[Research using the web|great insider tips for web researching]].

Disinformation is deliberately misleading information announced publicly or leaked by a governmentLaunched in 2003, intelligence agencySourceWatch now has <b>{{NUMBEROFARTICLES}} articles</b>, corporation or other entity for the purpose as of influencing opinions or perceptionstoday, 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.

Unlike Welcome to the '''SourceWatch''' community! [[misinformationArn Pearson]], which is also a form Executive Director of wrong informationthe Center for Media and Democracy, disinformation is produced by people who ''intend'' to deceive their audience.publisher of SourceWatch, PRWatch, and BanksterUSA

A group might plant disinformation in reports, in press releases, ==What is SourceWatch's role in increasing transparency and public statements or in practically any other routine, occasional or unusual communique. Disinformation can also be leaked, or covertly released to a source who can be trusted to repeat the false information.scrutiny?==

A common disinformation tactic is SourceWatch provides simple tools to mix truthattract public participation in documenting information about the people, half-truthscompanies, and lies. Disinformants sometimes seek entities attempting to gain the confidence of their audience through emotional appeals or by using semi-neutral language interlaced with threads of disinformationshape public opinion. It may be easier to ask and answer questions like "at what point does opinion or advocacy ''become'' disinformation?", "can history or ideology ''remain'' simplified without being disinforming?", and "what concept ''equals'' what other concept in this opinion, advocacy, history, or ideology?" Such distinctions are studied in With the fields experience of [[w:conceptual metaphor|conceptual metaphor]], [[w:information warfare|information warfare]], [[w:psychological operations|psychological operations]], [[w:scientific method|scientific method]], [[w:historical method|historical method]] and the [[w:sociology of knowledge|sociology of knowledge]].  One distinction that most students of these topics accept is that someone with an economic self-interest is rarely, if ever, a neutral observer.  ==Is disinformation just lying?== No. The word "lying " usually implies an awareness of spreading untruths. Long study in [[w:psychology|psychology]], e.g. [[w:false memory syndrome|false memory syndrome]], [[w:groupthink|groupthink]], suggests that honest advocates of a view can rarely tell when they have accepted some questionable premise or evidence along with the valid evidence Center for that view. This suggests a constructive role for their opponents in 'culling' that evidence and moderating extreme points of view among front groups, Media and industry experts. Such views may reflect not a desire to disinform, but rather a biased [[w:mind-set|mind-setDemocracy]] or [[w:paradigm|paradigm]] where some central dogma has become accepted as true. ==Why are PR firms a threat?== [[w:Public relations|Public relations]], the profession that trades (CMD) in influence researching and in altering mind-sets writing about spin and conceptual metaphors in public lifepropaganda, often has both economic self-interest and CMD believes it is vital to a commitment working democracy to a point of view. Thus an extreme increase public scrutiny on activities and [[w:ethical code|ethical code]]s of such professions is advised: the statements it produces must usually be considered ''disinformation by definition'', at least by opponents, until proven otherwise. ==How can the public fight back?== When such activities are genuinely against the public interest, wise members awareness of the people and companies shaping public seek tools to regain [[w:mindshare|mindshare]] for what they see as 'truth'policy. Holding disinforming groups up We think it is imperative to scrutiny is an ongoing process, a process far more important than labeling any particular point of view, or metaphor, or idea, as "disinforming". It is a cornerstone of any [[democracy]]. ==What is this project's role in increasing public scrutiny?== Because of its global scope provide useful information about key policies and experience with prior projects like [[w:Wikipedia|Wikipedia]] and others by [[PRwatch]], hopefully a project like '''SourceWatch''' can support the public scrutiny process more effectively than was possible with prior methodsdocument disinformation about these issues. If not, then also hopefullyAnd, that will become obvious and a more effective successor that will serve public purposes better can evolve, learning from this project's flaws and successes. So this project will likely serve as it is, and inspire successorsimportant to help people understand options for addressing these problems. Our hope is based on use of very open and simple tools that have proven capable of attracting mass public participation:

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

This is a [[w:collaborative|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.

You can learn 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. But remember, if php?title=Special:Userlogin&type=signup register].* Then you spot an error in the latest revision and you don't correct it, then you share responsibility for the error. So need to know [[be bold SourceWatch:How to log in|how to log in updating pages]]!and set your preferences.

If you are uncertain == Contribute an Article or find an Edit==* How to follow the wording confusing, quote [[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 material on the associated talk page bounds of our editorial policy]]* How to [[SourceWatch:Uploading Images & PDFs|upload images and leave a question for the next more knowledgeable reader or editor. This helps eliminate errors, inaccuracies or misleading wording more quickly 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 is highly appreciated formatting works by playing in the community. Thank you!editing [[SourceWatch:Sandbox|sandbox]]

==I want to contact the project by e-mail. What's the address?More Details==

Contact * Finding [[Special:Recentchanges|recent changes]]: see the articles that SourceWatch contributors are working on with the most recent changes listed first* Tracking [http[Special://www.prwatch.org Center for Media & DemocracyNewpages|new articles]] * Requesting [[SourceWatch:Requested articles|an article or information]]* Fixing [[SourceWatch editor Bob Burton by sending him :Find or fix a stub|a stub]], which is the small starting kernel for an email (bob AT article* Getting better [[SourceWatch.org). Otherwise, see :Searching|search]] results* Using [[SourceWatch:Categories|categories]] to link articles and build the next question.SourceWatch index

==Where can I talk about SourceWatch with others?Errors or Complaints==* Fixing [[Help:How to fix or report an error|errors]]

If you want to communicate with a specific user, leave a message on his or her personal talk page; you can find a list of registered SourceWatch users at ==Other Policies==* [[SpecialSourceWatch:ListusersGeneral disclaimer]]. ''PR Watch'' also hosts a [http://www.prwatch.org/forum/forumdisplay.php?forumid=22 SourceWatch web forum]. Finally, if you're looking to talk about a specific article or page, the best place to put your comments is on that page's Talk section.

==What is Wikipedia?Some Quick History ==

See * July 3, 2004: SourceWatch is [http://www.usemod.com/cgi-bin/mb.pl?BiggestWiki the world's 14th biggest wiki website] by mere article count.* March 10, 2003: SourceWatch is publicly launched.* January 15, 2003: SourceWatch is 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 creation of [[How does SourceWatch relate to w:Wikipedia|Wikipedia?]].