Research Guides: Intro to Journalism

Introduction to Journalism
This session will cover the following:
  • How to find a citation
  • Selecting a database
  • Planning your search strategy
  • Sample searches for types of information: Biography, Newspapers, Business, Website
FINDING A CITATION
Examine your citation and determine the journal title (NOT the article title).

Lariscy, R., Avery, E., Sweetser, K., & Howes, P. (2009, September). An examination of the role of online social media in journalists source mix. Public Relations Review, 35(3), 314-316. Retrieved September 17, 2009, doi:10.1016/j.pubrev.2009.05.008

Click on the Journal Titles; tab on the library’s website. Type your title in the box and click search.
DATABASE SELECTION
If you know what database you need, use the Search a Specific Database A to Z list on the library’s homepage
If you don’t know which database to search, use the Research by Subject guides.
For Journalism resources: Find that subject in the drop-down menu and click Go!

Books: Use the Library Catalog
Search for in
RESEARCH STRATEGY WORK SHEET
1. What is your information need? Write down your research topic:
 
 
2. Circle keywords.  Think of synonyms for your terms.  Write your search strategy using Boolean operators:
KEYWORD:                                                            SYNONYMS:
KEYWORD:                                                            SYNONYMS:
KEYWORD:                                                            SYNONYMS:
SEARCH STRATEGY:
 
 
3. What are the subjects of the terms? Write down 2 or 3 subjects and corresponding databases.
SUBJECT:                                                SELECT THIS DATABASE:
SUBJECT:                                                SELECT THIS DATABASE:
 
4. What types resources provide that information? Begin searching.
TYPES OF RESOURCES
EXAMPLES OF SPECIFIC RESOURCES
       REFERENCE
Encyclopaedia Britannica online
Oxford Reference Online: Premium Collection subject dictionaries
Facts.com digest of news stories through history + almanac
AP Stylebook (43rd ed., 2008) REF PN4783 .A83 2008
Generally: biographies, dictionaries, directories, almanacs, encyclopedias, etc.
BOOKS
       JOURNAL ARTICLES
BIOGRAPHICAL RESOURCES
WEBSITES:
Organizational & governmental information
Thomas (legislation) http://thomas.loc.gov/
Society of Professional Journalists http://www.spj.org/
LEGAL RESOURCE
LexisNexis Academic (case law, codes, law reviews)
BUSINESS RESOURCES
NEWSPAPERS &
TRANSCRIPTS
LexisNexis (national and international news & transcripts)
PHOTOJOURNALISM (AP Images)
        STATISTICS & Polls Statistical Abstract of the United States
Polling the Nations