Journalism Research Guide
ResearchWrite
Analyze
Articles and Dissertations
Print and Broadcast Journalism
Research
As a reporter, you will be called upon to research anything, anytime. Instead of beginning research by going straight to a search engine, develop a library of print and online tools that you turn to again and again. Beginning with this brief list of sources, add books and websites to answer other questions.
Listed below are a few of the tools that you can use to begin researching questions on politics, national and international affairs, history, and people.
Biography Resource Center
Links to biographical data, magazine articles, and websites for more than 200,000 people.Census Bureau
As the bureau responsible for collecting information on the people of the United States, use the Census site to find information on social, economic, educational, and other aspects of the population.Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Information from state agencies for residents, businesses, and visitors. Access to branches of government, Constitutional offices, and the departments under them. News and updates.FACSNET
The mission of FACSNET is to improve the quality of information reaching the public through the news and to provide knowledge to help individuals and organizations make informed decisions about important public issues.Firstgov
The official portal to information from the U.S. government. Search by topic or organization to find statistics, laws, and regulations.
Statistical Abstract of the United States of America [X] HA202.A75 (most recent at the Reference Desk)
As the National Data Book, the Statistical Abstract contains statistics on social and economic conditions in the United States. Selected international data are also included. Older volumes provide historical information.Thomas
Legislative information on the activities of both houses of the U.S. Congress, including legislative histories.World Almanac and Book of Facts [X]AY67.N5 W7 (most recent at the Reference Desk)
Use the Almanac to find statistics, charts, and data comparisons for information related to technology, sports, the environment, housing, population and more.
There are many more tools for your reference shelf, depending on the type of articles you write. Think about who might have information on your topic, and find some resources that relate. For example, if you find that you are writing on transportation issues, you might want to link to the Big Dig, and to the U.S. Department of Transportation, two sources for information on the massive public works project.
Write
Print and broadcast journalists rely on a unique style of writing and formatting. Use these guides for advice and examples.
The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law [X] PN4783 .A83 2007
Broadcast News Writing Stylebook [X] PN4784 .B75 P36 2002 (2005 edition in circulating collection)
The Language of News: A Journalist's Pocket Reference [X] PN4783 .B68 1994
Media Writer's Handbook [X] PN4783 .A76 2003
The New York Times Manual of Style and Usage [X] PN4783 .S57 1999
UPI Stylebook and Guide to Newswriting [X] PN4783 M47 2004
Analyze
Journalists not only write, they analyze news stories. One way to assess and analyze news is to check the veracity of information in the article. Research the story carefully. Are facts appropriate and true? Did the writers use reliable sources? Both print and online journalists adhere to codes of ethics. You might want to begin analyzing news stories by referring to sources which discuss the ethics of journalists.
Best Practices for Television Journalists [X] PN4756.W4 2000
Mass Media Codes of Ethics and Councils [X] PN4756.J66
Professional Codes of Ethics in Journalism [X] PN4756.P753 1990
World Press Encyclopedia [X] PN4728.Q53 2003
International Journalists Network
Codes of ethics for journalists around the world.
Articles and Dissertations
Many journals publish articles which critique and analyze news coverage. To find these articles, try searching in some of the following databases and websites.
Academic Search Premier
Indexing and full text from over 4,500 journals and magazines.AJR
News and columns from American Journalism Review. Or browse the hard copy in the library.
CJR/Columbia Journalism Review
From Columbia University's School of Journalism, this site includes current and past issues as well as a variety of journalism tools. Also browse the hard copy in the library.
Communication & Mass Media Complete
Provides citations and full text in communication and mass media.
ComAbstracts
Abstracts of more than 40 core communication journals.Expanded Academic ASAP
Indexing and full text to articles dating back to 1980.Freedom Forum
Provides daily headlines from the news and emphasizes issues related to the First Amendment and newsroom diversity.Journalism and Mass Communication Abstracts
Abstracts of dissertations and theses accepted for graduate degrees in journalism and mass communication.Poynter Research Center
Tip sheets, journalism links, bibliographies, and articles.
Print & Broadcast Journalism
There are many examples of print and broadcast journalism in in the Library. Daily issues of The Boston Globe, The Boston Herald, The New York Times, The International Herald Tribune and The Wall Street Journal are available at the Reserve Desk in the library. The Library also subscribes to a number of journals and magazines available on the Current Periodicals shelves. Use the links below to connect to databases to which the Library subscribes. These databases usually contain more complete articles than the news outlets' websites.
Boston Globe
Full text of Boston Globe articles dating back to 1980.
Paper copy: current two months
Microfilm: 1973 to present
Print index: 1983-1996Boston Herald
Full text of Herald articles dating back to 7/26/1991.
Full text from both the Globe and the Herald are also available via LexisNexis Academic.
Paper copy: current two months
Microfilm: 1990-1999LexisNexis Academic
The News section includes newspaper articles, wire services, and magazine articles. Dates vary by publication. Transcripts of news programming on ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, CNBC, Fox, and NPR (and a few others) are available in the News Transcripts section. Dates and coverage vary.The New York Times
Link through LexisNexis Academic for full text of the New York Times back to 1980.
The New York Times Historical Archive
Full text image of the New York Times back to 1851.
Paper copy: current two months
Microfilm: 1931 to present
Print index: 1932-1997Vanderbilt TV News Archive
Index of more than 30,000 evening news broadcasts from the major U.S. national broadcast networks, and more than 9,000 hours of special news-related programming including ABC's Nightline since 1989. CNN Evening News since 1999 can be viewed online.Wall Street Journal
Full text of WSJ articles back to 1984.
Paper copy: current four months
For additional news coverage, check the following sources. Be aware that many online news outlets only include current stories or today's news. For further coverage, check some of the sources listed above.
AJR
Links to newspapers, broadcasters, magazines, and wire services.Editor & Publisher
Covers the newspaper industry in North America.Newslink
Links to newspapers, broadcasters, and magazines.NewsVoyager
Maintained by the Newspaper Association of America, this site links to local newspapers from each state in the U.S.
