RSS: A Brief Introduction
RSS is short for Really Simple Syndication (among other things). It is a content format which, when used with an RSS aggregator (see below), lets users know when new content is added to a Web page. RSS Feeds are commonly used on blogs, news sites and other web pages where content is added frequently.
You can get a news aggregator to "pull" content for you every time
a page is updated -- it allows you to see all the new content on a given page
with a click of a mouse. With most news aggregators, you don't even have to
visit the websites where you have subscribed to RSS feeds; you can see all
the new content in one location. RSS Feeds are often indicated by links that
say "RSS," "Syndicate this site" or a square orange button
with the text 'RSS' or 'XML' within it, like this: 
How Do I Use an RSS Feed?
In order to receive an AIUSA feed, first you must sign up for or download
an RSS aggregator or reader utility. These utilities can be either desktop
or web-based. Some examples of popular aggregators include Newz
Crawler, Bloglines,
Feedreader, NetNewsWire
(for mac), and Newsgator,
among many others.
Once you have set-up your RSS aggregator, you are now ready to add an Amnesty
International USA feed to your list of RSS feeds. To do that, click on one
of the RSS buttons on the right next to the feed you are interested in. In
your browser, you will then see XML code. This is raw code that is not meant
to be viewed in your browser and can be ignored. Instead, copy the URL link
in the address window in your internet browser and place that URL link into
your RSS aggregator program. Alternatively, you can copy the web addresses
below the hyperlink title of the web feed to which you wish to subscribe and
place this into your news aggregator. You have now added a AIUSA RSS feed
to your aggregator and will receive relevant updates whenever they become
available.
(This page is based on the Pew Internet Project’s RSS Feed Page.)
