This is a list of the Top News Websites featured in Time Magazine’s “50 Best Websites “. Every year Time Magazine publishes a list of 50 best websites covering many categories from sports to social media and news. The list not only targets established websites with a large audience but also targets innovative up and coming websites with great potential.  This list features the five top websites listed in the News and Information category.

Top News and Info Websites featured in the Time Magazine’s “50 Best Websites of 2010″

Guardian

It was a welcome change to see one of UK’s finest news websites make it to the top of the Times List in the news category. The reputation and credibility of Guardian is unsurpassed and as such it not surprising to see it in the list. The online version of an already established newspaper, Guardian.co.uk has been critically acclaimed and acknowledged by many for effectively embracing the digital era.

In addition to comprehensive news coverage, the website offers an innovative user-friendly design along with a great set of mobile applications for users. There are more than 1 million archived articles and almost all its content can be accessed for free

The Onion

The Onion is a unique website that is unlike any other news website on the internet. It is a satirical newspaper featuring world, national and community news. It sets the standard for satire and humour in digital news delivery. Onion is an established website that has refined itself over the years. In the late 90s, while still presenting humour, it lacked the often-brilliant subtlety featured in the newer issues.

Celebrating a long history, it offers a vast archive of content that spans more than 20 years. The website offers a variety of content daily including videos, podcasts (known as the Onion Radio News) and articles that offer a humorous take on the latest issues. Its online A.V. Club features exceptionally good arts reporting.

The Daily Beast

The Daily Beast is a news website from USA.  The website was launched in 2008. It is published by Tina Brown, former editor of popular Vanity Fair and The New Yorker publications. The website also offers a combination of aggregated content from other news sources as well as unique and original content. One of its daily features called the “Cheat Sheet” has proved popular with readers and offers a brief summary of a selection of articles and popular stories from a variety of sources.

It was featured No.3 in the news category of the Times 50 Best Websites of 2010 which recommends the site as a must-read for any serious news consumer. Its high calibre writers report on the day’s top headlines making it easy for readers to quickly digest the most essential elements.

National Geographic

National Geographic needs no introduction. The National Geographic Society is one of the largest non-profit scientific organisations and has been a great source of inspiring for those who care about the planet. Their website is rich with information and offers a wide range of content ranging from magnificent collections of nature photography to in-depth sections on a range of scientific and environmental issues.

The website is very easy to use and content is neatly organised into easy to find sections. It also offers a wide selection of products and you can shop for items related to science, nature, music, software, apparel, and home items. You can subscribe to the site content or Magazine to stay up to date with scientific and environmental issues.

WikiLeaks

WikiLeaks was founded by Julian Assange from Iceland. Since it launch in 2006, WikiLeaks has been a regular feature in news stories throughout the world. The website has made a name for itself by leaking secret government documents related to a range of controversial issues. US congressmen recently called for the Wikileaks website to be shut down after it released thousands of secret U.S. government documents although it is not likely to succeed.

The popularity of the website increased manifold in July 2010 when it started releasing a series of documents relating to the war in Afghanistan, stirring controversy within politicians and the press alike. In many ways WikiLeaks seems to have changed the standards of online journalism.

Read the full List of Times 50 Best Websites of 2010

The author K.Singh is a London based Internet Consultant with over 10 years of experience working with established multi national businesses as well as SME’s.  He is an expert in  Web Design, Internet Marketing, E-Commerce and Joomla.