JOUR 205: Reporting the News - Research Guide
Evaluating Information on the Web
It is important to critically evaluate information found on the Web. View the library's Guide to Evaluating Information on the Web for tips on how to evaluate Web sites for accuracy, authority, objectivity, currency, and coverage.
Searching News Archives
Full-text database of news articles from hundreds of international, national, and regional newspapers. Includes archives of three Arizona newspapers: Arizona Daily Star, Tucson Citizen, and Arizona Republic.
View the Access World News tutorial (Flash file with audio) to learn how to search for news articles from Arizona newspapers in the Access World News database. Step-by-step instructions from Access World News tutorial.
Finding Primary Sources
In journalism, what is a primary source?
Here is an example of a secondary source that incorporates information from a primary source - an excerpt from a New York Times article, "On Campus, First-Time Voters Count Days" (October 14, 2008), p. A19:
"Much is made of the youth vote each year, and much is then dismissed as the turnout among younger voters ends up being eclipsed by that of older Americans by large margins. But demographic swings in recent years -- the population of 18- to 24-year-olds rose to nearly 30 million in 2006, from about 27 million in 2000, according to Census Bureau figures -- have made young voters a coveted group. This is especially so in this swing state, with its many colleges and universities."
This news article, is a secondary source for journalists. It cites data from the Census Bureau. The original data is found on the Census Bureau Web site. The Census is the primary source.
How do you find primary sources?
The Census data is one example of a primary source. There are many others, and you will need to consult different sources depending on the story/topic you're covering. So how do you find the primary sources you need?
- Generally, government sites are a good place to look for primary data sources.
Examples:
- Other sources of primary data may be academic/research institutions or non-governmental organizations.
Example:
- Use secondary sources to help you identify primary sources:
Examples:
- Newspaper articles
- Almanacs, e.g., Information Please Almanac
- Other reference sources, e.g., Statistical Abstract of the United States
Research Assistance
If you have questions or need assistance with your research:
- Go to the Information Commons Reference Desk/Help Desk in the Information Commons of the Main Library. The reference desk is staffed all hours that the library is open!
- Call the Information Commons Reference Desk at 621-6442.
- Use Ask-a-Librarian Chat Reference service online
If you need more in-depth research assistance, make an appointment with Mary Feeney, the Journalism Librarian.
Webpage created by Mary Feeney, Journalism Librarian