The librarian is: BLOGGING | Journalism Library, Columbia University

The Journalism Library Blog has MOVED! This site is no longer being updated as of July 2009. Come find us at our new location:

https://blogs.cul.columbia.edu/journalism

See you there!

Welcome, Summer 2009 Part-Timers! Please check out the following links to help you get started with your research!

• jump-start your electronic research with these databases
• scope out your beat with these resources
• don’t leave home without your Lexis Nexis and Factiva cheat sheet
• and a good place to start is always at the Journalism Library web page

If you need help with your research, please send email to journalism@libraries.cul.columbia.edu or stop by the library for assistance.

World Wide Web is a composite collection of content created and hosted on the internet by millions of organizations and individuals. In order to effectively evaluate information that you find on the internet, consider the following criteria:

Authorship -

• Who wrote this? As Peter Steiner said, “On the Internet,
  Nobody Knows You’re a Dog”
• Is the author an expert in the field?
• What are author’s affiliations?
• Who is the sponsor or publishing body of the site?

Currency -

• Is the information provided timely? This is particularly important in areas of science, technology, health, and politics.
• Is publication date or “last updated” date included with the information?
• If the information is dated or historical, does the document refer to the source and year, e.g. “Based on 1990 U.S. Census data”?

Objectivity -

• Does the author or web page sponsor have a bias?
• Is more than one viewpoint expressed on the topic?
• Does the author or publishing body have a particular agenda?

Coverage -

• Is the information freely available?
• Is the site complete or under construction?
• Does the information have a print equivalent?

Accuracy/Verifiability -

• Does the information include references to experts in the field or rely on other sources?
• Does the information include a bibliography?
• Was an explanation offered on how the data was gathered and interpreted?

If you need help in evaluating a particular internet resource, please stop by the Journalism Library or contact any of the libraries on campus for assistance!

The Journalism School along with the Center for New Media Teaching and Learning created an amazing new reporting resource for RW1 students - an electronic map of New York City that allows students to view census data by neighborhood, election district, etc. To use this resource, and for more information on how to use it, follow the link below (authentication required) -

http://jour6001-000-2008-3.wikispaces.columbia.edu/

Would you like to see an online demonstration of how to access the AP Daybook from Factiva? Your colleague, Joseph Lin, MS 2009, has put together a wonderful step-by-step screencast! Click on Joseph’s screencast to view.

The MS Orientation 2008 library presentation and handouts are now available:

- Power Point Presentation
- Scoping Out Your Beat
- Nexis Factiva Cheat Sheet
- Databases List