Press Releases
Wire Services
Research Sites (Great for Raw Data)
International Newspaper and Magazine Sources
Local News Sources
Evaluating Websites
Not all web sites are created equal...
Anyone can make a webpage. For academic purposes, it is important to always consider the following when using the web as part of your research:
Authority - who made the page? Is he/she an expert in the knowledge that is being presented?
Appropriateness - is the information appropriate for your assignment/research? Consider things like language, age level.
Currency - how old is the page? Is the information itself current? When was the page last updated?
Objectivity - is there a bias to the point of view of the page? Is it hidden or overt?
Purpose - what is the purpose of the site? Does it inform, sell, persuade an opinion?
Dalhousie University has an excellent resource to help you evaluate your web resources.
Other Sites of Interest
- The Journalist's ToolboxFrom the Society of Professional Journalists
- Media Diversity InstituteGood diversity-related educational material and tools for journalists.
- Power ReportingThousands of free research tools for journalists from the Columbia Journalism Review
- Independent Media InstituteThe Independent Media Institute works to "empower people with independent journalism, information and media tools to change the world."
To that end, the organization oversees four related projects, including AlterNet.org and WireTap.
Visitors may want to start by browsing through the AlterNet site, as it contains compelling Web-based journalism coverage of a wide variety of newsworthy events, organized through what is termed the "infomediary."
