Formed in the 325th year of the Third Era, the Civilized Races Information Guild is a vast news organization that facilitates reliable communication between the sensible peoples of the world. Operated jointly by the East Empire Trading Company and the Gold Coast Trading Company, CRIG utilizes magical communication (scrying, portals, telepathy, memospore, etc.), couriers, and Yneslean aetherwave technology. Among its academic and journalistic members are the Black Horse Courier, the Imperial Geographical Society, the Scenarist Guild, the Mages Guild, and the United Explorers of Scholarly Pursuit.
Despite its name, the Guild does not exclusively focus on the Empire and its dependents. It also has receivers in the Aldmeri Dominion, Argonia, Morrowind, Hammerfell, the island-nations of Roscrea, Esroniet, Topal Island, and Cathnoquey, the subcontinent of Yneslea, and the inhabitable remnants of Yokuda. The only civilized countries that have yet to join CRIG are Akavir, Pyandonea, Thras, and Atmora (for obvious reasons). Because Aldmeris does not exist in the traditional sense it is doubtful receivers can be implemented there, and although the lunar colonies established Guild outposts and receivers in 3E 343, contact with them has been growing increasingly difficult. All attempts to establish receivers in Aetherius and Oblivion has been met with incredible opposition and blatant hate-mail.
The Guild has always been the chief distributor of information to the known and non-hostile world since its inception, allowing for citizens of all nations to be well-informed of the events that transpire on Nirn. It prides itself on being impartial in regards to the politics of the Mundus and has never intentionally spread propaganda during times of war and strife. If members of the Guild are discovered to be overly biased in their writings and transmissions, they are either dismissed or ordered to trial for misconduct. Members of any race—mortal or otherwise—can find a career path at CRIG, as prejudice in any form is strictly prohibited.
In 4E 188 the Network found itself facing disbandment after multiple correspondents were revealed to be agents sent to infiltrate it in the midst of the Great War. Although the organization survived several grueling court cases and continues to operate, the Guild has since tripled-down on policies and employee screening and seems to be holding a grudge against all of their clients due to their abuse of the first (and only) intercontinental news supplier. Whether or not the nations can regain the trust of the Guild in the future remains to be seen.