Extemporaneous Speaking Resources

Information about some of the more popular resources of Extemporaneous Speakers.  (Free database listings are at the bottom.)

The Christian Science Monitor
“The Christian Science Monitor is an international news organization that delivers thoughtful, global coverage…our aim is to embrace the human family, shedding light and understanding with the conviction that truth is the beginning of solutions. This conviction has served our readers and story subjects well over the years, winning us seven Pulitzer Prizes and more than a dozen Overseas Press Club awards…We're unrelenting but fair. We're excited by what’s new and developing - yet always mindful of the history behind us. We're broad in scope but written for the individual.  And we make a point of resisting the sensational in favor of the meaningful. We're also free to be an independent voice, devoid of the corporate allegiances and pressures that critics say too often skew today's media.”
Website
Subscription
Cost: weekly publication for $13 for the first 26 weeks (Canada is $18.38)

Forbes
“Forbes.com Inc. is a leading Internet media company, is among the most trusted resources for the world's business and investment leaders, providing them the uncompromising commentary, concise analysis, relevant tools and real-time reporting they need to succeed at work, profit from investing and have fun with the rewards of winning. Forbes.com includes real-time original reporting on business, technology, investing and lifestyle; stock and mutual fund quotes; comprehensive company profiles; a wide array of interactive tools, calculators and databases, including People Tracker, the annual Forbes Lists; a Lifestyle section that currently focuses on high-end vehicles, collecting, real estate and travel; and the complete online editions of Forbes' magazines.”
Website
Subscription
Cost: free trial issue; 25 issues for $29.99

The Economist
“Edited in London since 1843, The Economist is a weekly international news and business publication, offering clear reporting, commentary and analysis on world current affairs, business, finance, science and technology, culture, society, media and the arts. As noted on its contents page, The Economist's goal is to "take part in a severe contest between intelligence, which presses forward, and an unworthy, timid ignorance obstructing our progress." Printed in five countries, worldwide circulation is now over one million, and The Economist is read by more of the world's political and business leaders than any other magazine.”
Website
Subscription
Cost: Students - 51 issues for $77, 25 issues for $39.90, or 12 issues for $19.95 / Regular - 102 issues for $223.38, 51 issues for $126.99, or 25 issues for $67.25

U.S. News and World Report
“U.S.News & World Report came into existence through a journalistic merger. In 1933, journalist David Lawrence published the first issue of a weekly newspaper called the United States News. Six years later, he launched a magazine called World Report. When the two weeklies merged in 1948, U.S.News & World Report was born…”
U.S. News & World Report provides a focus on mostly American news such as politics and policy, health, finance, science, travel, education, cars, and their popular and informative lists of rankings (notably the best high schools, colleges/universities, and grad schools).
Website
Subscription
Cost: Print - 1 year (24 issues) for $15; 2 years for $25 / Digital - 4 issues $3.95; 1 year special offer for $19.95, regular for $24.95

Science News
“Science News has been published since 1922. This award-winning biweekly news magazine covers important and emerging research in all fields of science. It publishes concise, accurate, timely articles that appeal to both general readers and scientists, reaching nearly 130,000 subscribers and more than one million readers. Audible.com distributes an audio edition of Science News. News from the Science News reporting team also appears at www.sciencenews.org. Updated daily, this site covers all areas of science. Science News is published by Society for Science & the Public, a nonprofit 501(c) (3) organization dedicated to the public engagement in scientific research and education.
Website
Subscription
Cost: with U.S. address, 1 year (26 issues) for $49.95 (Canada $67.95)

Foreign Policy
“Founded in 1970 by Samuel Huntington and Warren Demian Manshel, and now published by the Slate Group, a division of Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive, LLC, in Washington, D.C., FOREIGN POLICY is the premier, award-winning magazine of global politics, economics, and ideas. After winning our third Ellie (National Magazine Award) in six years, we believe the judges said it best:
“Serious without being pompous, deep without being self-indulgent…”
Website
Subscription
Cost: Print - 1 year (7 issues) for $24.95 (Canada $36.95; International $42.95) / Electronic - 1 year (7 issues) for $24.95 (for the US, Canada, and International)

Foreign Affairs
“Since its founding in 1922, Foreign Affairs has been the leading forum for serious discussion of American foreign policy and international affairs. It is published by the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), a non-profit and nonpartisan membership organization dedicated to improving the understanding of U.S. foreign policy and international affairs through the free exchange of ideas…The magazine’s first issue led with a statement setting out an editorial vision that has remained constant ever since:
“The articles in Foreign Affairs will deal with questions of international interest today. They will cover a broad range of subjects, not only political but historical and economic, and they will be accompanied, when it is desirable, by maps and diagrams. Technical articles will be left to more special magazines. There will be numerous foreign contributors, but the fact that the interest and profit of the American reader are a first consideration will not be forgotten.
“In pursuance of its ideals Foreign Affairs will not devote itself to the support of any one cause, however worthy. Like the Council on Foreign Relations from which it has sprung it will tolerate wide differences of opinion. Its articles will not represent any consensus of beliefs. What is demanded of them is that they shall be competent and well informed, representing honest opinions seriously held and convincingly expressed. We do not expect that readers of the review will sympathize with all the sentiments they find there, for some of our writers will flatly disagree with others; but we hold that while keeping clear of mere vagaries Foreign Affairs can do more to guide American public opinion by a broad hospitality to divergent ideas than it can by identifying itself with one school. It does not accept responsibility for the views expressed in any article, signed or unsigned, which appears in its pages. What it does accept is the responsibility for giving them a chance to appear there.”
Website
Subscribe: Student - 6 issues (1 year) for $19.95 (Canada $12; International $35) / Standard - 12 issues (2 years) for $60; 6 issues (1 year) for $32

Reuters
"Thomson Reuters is the world’s leading source of intelligent information for businesses and professionals. We provide intelligent information to the world’s businesses and professionals, serving four primary customer groups. We have a leading market position, with well recognized and respected brands in each of our principal markets."
Website

Gallup Polls
"Gallup delivers forward-thinking research, analytics, and advice to help leaders solve their most pressing problems. Combining more than 75 years of experience with its global reach, Gallup knows more about the attitudes and behaviors of the world's constituents, employees, and customers than any other organization.
Gallup consultants help private and public sector organizations boost organic growth through measurement tools, strategic advice, and education. Gallup's 2,000 professionals deliver services at client organizations, through the Web, and in nearly 40 offices around the world.
Gallup News reports empirical evidence about the world's 7 billion citizens based on Gallup's continuous polling in 160 countries. The Gallup Business Journal provides hard-hitting articles and insights aimed at helping executives improve business outcomes based on Gallup's experience boosting companies' performance."
Website

NPR
"A thriving media organization at the forefront of digital innovation, NPR creates and distributes award-winning news, information, and music programming to a network of 975 independent stations. Through them, NPR programming reaches 26 million listeners every week."
Website

Also, it is recommended to have a subscription to a good local/National newspaper (such as the Tribune, Sun Times, Washington Post.)People Magazine, or most any other tabloid, is good to keep on hand as well for celebrity topics too.