Best and Worst of the Web

For each day this week (Monday-Friday), I will be posting a best website and worst website as they pertain to my topic of research, the growing technology in post-war Iraq and Afghanistan. The four standards by which I am measuring whether a website qualifies as a “best of” or “worst of,” is as follows:

• Is the content credible? Who owns the website and creates the content? Is it from a credible source such as a government agency, media entity, or person with specific knowledge (and credentials) about the subject matter? Or is it from someone with no impartiality, with conflicts of interest, or is it simply an uniformed opinion piece?
• Is the content current? Are specific dates given for articles? Is the website updated regularly? I’m not interested in information that is old and outdated.
• Is the content useful? Does the website give us news or simply rehash existing materials? Does the content give and overall view of the situation as well as specific details? Is it useful for multiple audiences or are only experts or beginners allowed for?
• Is the content interesting? Does the website present the material in a way that facilitates learning and interest? Features like photos, lists, and graphical elements capture the audience’s attention and illustrate points in a way that text cannot.