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Powerbase is a free guide to networks of power, lobbying, public relations and the communications activities of governments and other interests. It is a project of Public Interest Investigations and Spinwatch. Read more...
Help us expose spin and lies
We always welcome new contributors - read how you can sign up as user.
Donations
Powerbase is run on a shoestring, and many contributors kindly give their time for free. If you find these resources useful, please consider donating to help us cover our modest overheads. Thank you.
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Alcohol | Climate | Counter-Terrorism | Counterjihad | Finance Lobbying | Foodspin | Fracking | GMWatch | Health | Israel Lobby | Lobbying | MEPedia | Mining and Metals | Neoconservatives | Northern Ireland | Nuclear Spin | Pharma | Propaganda | The Revolving Door | Schools | Scotland | Spooks | State Violence and Collusion Project | Terror Expertise | Think Tanks | Water | and hosting since 2015...the Undercover Research Group |
What we do
We focus on transparency issues by profiling and investigating the activities of lobbying firms, lobbyists and corporate lobby groups. We also examine the relationship between special interests and elected representatives, including the 'revolving door'.
Another focus is on communication, spin and propaganda in party politics and in war and peace. We also cover public interest reporting on many controversial issues such as the nuclear debate, climate change, water, alcohol, food, genetically modified food and crops, and the pharmaceutical industry. The database is a public interest resource that monitors and documents both positive and negative activities in relation to spin. We include pages on whistleblowers, on critics and victims of spin, on those whose work is spun by others, and those who are associated with PR – as well as on those who practice and promote spin. See our definition of 'spin'.
Powerbase is overseen by an editor, managing editor and several associate portal editors. We have a policy of strict referencing and on dealing with corrections.
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Fracking
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Our Fracking portal] tracks the companies, people and lobbyists behind the campaign to push for shale gas exploration in the UK and worldwide.
It provides information on who is influencing the debate over fracking, and the tactics they use to persuade the public. Watch our latest lobbying tour video Meet the Frackers.
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Schools Portal
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Our Schools Portal examines the vast global education industry that has sprung up in recent years to profit from our schools.
It has been described as ‘the largest market opportunity’ since healthcare was privatised. 'Let's all go forth. Let's all make hay,' as one private equity investor at a 2015 UK conference succinctly put it.
We reveal the firms leading the reforms; the networks of lobbyists and think tanks working for them across continents; the politicians aiding them; the messages being used to sell these changes, and more...
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Propaganda, conflict and war
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Propaganda | Terror Experts and institutions | Neoconservative networks | Counterinsurgency
Powerbase focuses on communication, spin and propaganda in party politics and in war and peace. The database contains collections of articles on British propaganda, the theory and practice of counterinsurgency, the neoconservatives, terror experts and the associated terrorism industry, which can influence public opinion and policy in the 'war on terror'. It also documents the disinformation and covert action activities of states, intelligence agencies, and their associated networks.
Regional conflicts
Israel Lobby | The Conflict in the North of Ireland | Iraq War 2003 | Targeting Iran
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The alcohol industry and policy
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Powerbase's alcohol portal examines governance processes on alcohol and public policy. It reveals the connections between the industry and public policymakers and their relationships with the media, scientists. We focus largely on the most important policy actor - the alcohol industry - and its personnel, and aim to expose its links with alcohol lobby groups and alcohol lobbyists and PR people.
We review current research and debates within the field. The role alcohol science and scientists play in the policy process is also examined.
We also cover the alcohol NGOs, which are often poorly funded and struggle to raise public health issues against the plethora of other alcohol policy groups and the often covertly industry-funded alcohol front groups.
Visit all pages on alcohol in the alcohol category.
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Elite networks and corporate power
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Industry sectors
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Popular portals and articles
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Powerbase's most popular pages include:
Getting Started
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Looking for somewhere to start?
We welcome new contributors to Powerbase. To contribute, you first need to register as a User.
- Send an email to melissa.jones AT Powerbase.info saying who you are and your interests. If you are approved as a User you will be sent a User name and password to enable you to log in and edit or contribute material.
If you are unsure where to start, you could expand some recently created but currently brief articles. Take a look at the recent changes page to see some noted as 'stubs' - articles that may just be a line or two and need to be fleshed out. So if you would like to add to some of those you would be most welcome.
There is an automatically updated page which includes pages which have been signalled by Powerbase Users as most wanted. There is also a page with a list of Things you can do to help.
Or if you would like some other suggestions closer to your interests, you could drop Powerbase's managing editor an email at melissa.jones AT Powerbase.info
Research and writing tips
How to research front groups | Resources for studying propaganda | Research using the web
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Disclaimer: Powerbase is an encyclopedia of people, issues and groups shaping the public agenda. It is a project of the non-profit Public Interest Investigations—email melissa.jones AT Powerbase.info.
Antispam note: To avoid attracting spam email robots, email addresses on Powerbase are written with AT in place of the usual symbol, and we have removed "mail to" links. Replace AT with the correct symbol to get a valid address. We regret the inconvenience this entails. Campaign for more effective antispam regulations.
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