Introduction

Browsers

Newsgroups

Listservs

Indexes

Searches

Evaluating sites

Mass media

Government

Specialized sites

Reference

Glossary

Reading assignment: Chapter 5 (pp. 186-192)

Newsgroups

Also known as Usenet, newsgroups preceded the Web on the Internet. Newsgroups are publicly available areas for discussion of topics related to a specific theme. Unlike chat areas, newsgroups do not occur in real time. You can come and go as you like and catch up with whatever has been discussed recently.

There are limits to this flexible approach. Newsgroups' messages are stored on your Internet service provider's computers (or, if you read them on the Web, on somebody's computers).

Because of the messages' volume, they cannot be stored indefinitely. ISPs usually allocate a certain amount of storage space to each newsgroup. When a particular newsgroup's space is filled, its oldest messages are deleted as new ones arrive.

"Among the riches of the Internet for communicators are the variety of places where you can monitor informal sources. Newsgroups and listservs are treasure troves for tapping into the thoughts and opinions of people. No matter what topic you are doing your research on, you will find a newsgroup where people are discussing the issue and their feelings about it." -- Kathleen A. Hansen and Nora Paul, Behind the Message: Information Strategies for Communicators

To see newsgroup contents older than what your ISP provides, visit Google, which stores old newsgroup messages.

Many people simply read what is available (behavior known as lurking). If you want to become involved beyond lurking, you can post a message that might ask a question, answer someone else's question or make a comment. Be aware, however, that many experienced users of newsgroups have an intense dislike for new users who ask questions that have already been dealt with in the group. Look for a file called FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) to see if the information you seek is in there. If it is, don't post your inquiry.

You can use Outlook Express to gain access to newsgroups. Or you can use the Web to browse newsgroups. Here are several sites that provide free access to newsgroups:

Each of these sites offers a different interface for reading newsgroups. You'll need to spend a little time with each one to decide which you like best.

Caution: Be skeptical of anything that you read in a newsgroup message. Newsgroup messages can be posted by anyone, and no one checks their authenticity before they are published. Anyone can pose as an expert on a topic and post a totally fabricated message. You should verify anything that you read in a newsgroup before you act on the information.

Also be aware that not all ISPs carry all newsgroups. For one reason or another, you may find a newsgroup on one server that is not available from another. 

Note: Some Web sites have their own versions of newsgroups. They often go by another name, such as communities. They operate similarly to newsgroups, but they are not officially newsgroups because they don't operate through that part of the Internet. One such site is Google Groups, listed above. Another is Yahoo! Groups (http://groups.yahoo.com/).