Why would you want to know who publishes a web site?

The organization that sponsors a site can sometimes provide clues for further investigation. Educational, non-profit and commercial sites tend to sponsor different kinds of information. However, the sponsoring organization is no guarantee of quality. Does the fact that I trust Education Week mean I have to believe what Jamie Vollmer says in his speech?

A web site publisher?s credentials are one of the few things we can check to enable us to trust the authenticity of the information found on a site. However, we mustn?t confuse the publisher with the author. Education Week had nothing to do with Mr. Vollmer?s speech; they simply made its contents public via the web site they maintain. Does this imply any responsibility?

Publishers establish a reputation for printing specific types of articles, papers, images, sounds, etc. when they build their web site. As they add and change the content, this perspective may stay the same or change, but it usually remains close to the original. Education Week will always print articles about educationally relevant topics, whether their categories remain: Home, Education Week, Teacher Magazine, Daily News, Archives, Special Reports, Issues A-Z, and State Info; or not.

How can you determine who published a web site?

The publisher’s name is usually prominently displayed at the top or bottom of the web site on each page. If not, it is likely to be on an “About this Site” page. What does the organization have to say about itself? If you have trouble finding it, look for other pages on the same site. Use the site map to help you find additional pages. If this strategy isn't available, try truncating the URL to find pages residing on the same server. The main home page of the organization is where you might find the most complete publisher information.

How can you learn more about the publisher of a web site?

Who is the publisher? What is their reputation among the public? Colleagues? What other web based information do they publish? Non-web based? To find the answers to these questions, we suggest you check the same server for other web based publications. Then search for the publisher on the Internet. Then run a search for the publisher on a same-subject database. Check the library for print materials by this publisher as well. Find out what other publishers say about them and who says it. Find out who trusts them and whether you trust their opinions.

Is this a national or international organization?

Do you tend to trust large national and international organizations more than smaller upstarts? How can you tell which is which? What about upstarts by experts in the field? Check the URL. Www.bigcompany.com.de/sales/ad.htm implies a commercial organization, located in Germany, the sales department, and an advertisement. Www.notforprofit.org.au/mission/goal.htm implies a small, not for profit organization, located in Australia, the goal page published in the mission section of the web site. Www.nooneknows.net/~george/mysay.htm implies a personally published page in the United States. Now, let?s say each of these pages support your research. All claim to be international organizations. An expert in the field backs the ad. An expert in the field proposes the goal. George turns out to be an expert in the field, too. You can only use one of these resources. Which one would you choose? Why?

What is the mission of the organization?

The ?About this Site? page may describe the purpose of the site. Organizations often even have a Mission page outlining exactly what their mission is and how they plan to attain their goals. This mission can help you decide questions like the one above. Organizations whose goals match those of your research will fit into your work more easily than those whose goals do not. Opinion pieces of writing will rely particularly on resources with clearly stated missions. Organizations with clearly stated missions can be trusted more than those without; right?

JustGiving sponsors Tracy so that she can solicit donations from her friends and relatives around the world. She is walking across Iceland to raise money for Romanian children. ?Justgiving is a private company dedicated to bringing the benefits of new technology to the business of charity fundraising.?

America Online only provides space for the AOL@School web site. To find out more about the publisher investigate the AOL@School organization rather than AOL itself.

Does the site provide a contact for further information?

Sites that provide names, email addresses, snail mail addresses, phone numbers, and other contact information make it possible to find out the details not published on their web pages. Just the fact that they are willing to be contacted lets us know that they stand behind what they say and encourages us to trust them.

The above tips are worded as questions because they are not always true. These are general rules that may not work for your situation. Use them when they are applicable; ignore them when they are not.

Who is the publisher of this learning unit?

The publisher of this learning unit is the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy.( http://www.imsa.edu ) The .edu in the URL indicates that the publisher is an academy or college web site. IMSA is a state funded learning enterprise working to liberate the human spirit for the world. The mission of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, a pioneering educational community, is to transform mathematics and science teaching and learning by developing ethical leaders who know the joy of discovering and forging connections within and among mathematics, science, the arts, and the humanities by means of an exemplary laboratory environment characterized by research, innovative teaching, and service. IMSA sponsors the Internet Search Wizard as well as providing web space. Visitors are encouraged to contact the Wizard Team with feedback and/or questions.