The librarian is: BLOGGING | Journalism Library, Columbia University

August 28, 2009

JOURNALISM LIBRARY BLOG HAS MOVED

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 This site is no longer being updated as of July 2009.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!

November 23, 2008

Evaluating Information on the Internet

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 -

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!

April 24, 2007

FREE access to NYT’s TimesSelect!

Filed under: Electronic resources, World Wide Web - journalismlibrary @

Yes, you read that right. FREE. To anyone with a valid .edu email address. More details here: http://www.nytimes.com/gst/ts_university_email_verify.html

Graduating students, sign up now, before your email address expires (though it’s possible that this may still work with your alumni email forwarding).

August 30, 2006

Beat reporting & lunch

Filed under: World Wide Web, Beat reporting - journalismlibrary @

Hitting the streets of your beat for the first time? Make sure to head out there hungry - both for a great story and a great meal. Some of NYC’s best food never makes it into Zagat’s, so an essential website for learning about your neighborhood’s cuisine is Chowhound. Recently re-designed, Chowhound has discussion boards for food in all areas of New York City. Covering an area in Manhattan? Search the Manhattan board. Covering a beat that’s farther afield? Try the Outer Boroughs board.

Remember that resources like Chowhound thrive on user input, so once you’ve sampled the cuisine your beat has to offer, weigh in with your own comments!

The Katrina Files

Filed under: World Wide Web, Weather - journalismlibrary @

The Katrina Files is the latest report from the
UCLA-based Center for Communications and Community
. It includes critiques of Hurricane Katrina coverage, community and independent media, research reports on Katrina and its aftermath, and a section for the public to submit materials.

[Thanks to Prof. June Cross for suggesting this site!]

March 8, 2006

Free Government Info

Check out Free Government Info.

This is a site (started by a few librarians) which tracks threats to government information’s freedom from “many economic and political forces,” and is also involved in raising public awareness about the importance of this type of information.

February 9, 2006

LexisNexis FREE Winter Olympics Site

Filed under: Electronic resources, World Wide Web, Sports journalism - journalismlibrary @

That’s right, this is FREE to anyone out there on the Net.

Enjoy!

February 7, 2006

Facts of Life - issue briefings on health

Filed under: World Wide Web, Science journalism - journalismlibrary @

Facts of Life is a series of issue briefings for health reporters, brought to you by the Center for the Advancement of Health, a nonprofit which translates the latest evidence-based research on health, health care, prevention and chronic disease management for the general public.

January 19, 2006

Nightly News presentation - Research 101

The Basics: phone numbers & addresses
I wish I could tell you we had some super-duper special people-finder tools. But we don’t. Here are some decent free sites instead.

  • Verizon (www.verizon.com, then click on People Pages). The source. This is an online white pages. No reverse lookup, though.
  • Infospace (www.infospace.com). This was one of the only sites that had my current address right! Includes a reverse lookup by address (just click on “search by phone” to reveal reverse phone and address lookup forms). Accuracy seems good here, too.
  • Switchboard (www.switchboard.com). Another good option – data seems as accurate as Infospace, and also includes reverse lookup under “search by phone.”
  • New Yorkers and where to find them
    Looking for interesting New Yorkers to profile? Here are a few tips.

  • Gothamist (www.gothamist.com) is an excellent way to stay on top of NYC arts, sports, events, and pop culture.
  • NYC Bloggers (www.nycbloggers.com) is a map of bloggers by subway line. Check out a station near you and see if you find someone of interest.
  • Gotham Gazette (www.gothamgazette.com). The same site that keeps you informed on the latest doings in NYC politics can help you find interesting stories in New York’s neighborhoods. Pay special attention to the Community Gazettes section.
  • New York Public Library branches (www.nypl.org/branch/local/) frequently hold events, like storytelling hours, poetry readings, and seminars. Check out the one nearest you and see what’s on!
  • Meetup.com (www.meetup.com) is an online forum for people who share similar interests to meet each other. Browse by city to find groups who may make interesting subjects (like the “NYC Boston Red Sox Meetup Group”). Possibly also of interest for the Consumer Watch segment if you want to expose a possible scam.
  • Finding experts
    Preparing a Roundtable discussion? New York City is full of experts, but how to find them?

  • Academics: Visit the website of a local university (start with Columbia). All universities have listings of faculty by department, and most include specific research interests of each faculty member. Can’t find a professor on short notice? How about a doctoral student? Try visiting the department HQ, if it’s at Columbia. Looking at the flyers on the wall there may lead you to interesting people.
  • Others: Who has spoken on this subject before? Search Factiva or LexisNexis to find transcripts or quotes from newspapers stories on related topics.
  • Consumer Watch

  • Craigslist (newyork.craigslist.org) is a good place to look at the services New Yorkers are seeking and providing (click on the services section). Some may surprise you!
  • Daily Candy (www.dailycandy.com) is a daily newsletter reporting on shopping and service trends in a number of US cities, including New York.
  • Crain’s New York Business (access via Factiva, access restricted to current Columbia affiliates) is a weekly publication which covers all aspects of business in New York City. Search to find articles on a topic of interest.
  • Bonus resources we talked about during the session:
    AP Photo Archive
    Archive.org - online archive of multimedia content

    December 7, 2005

    LexisNexis’ 2005 Year in Review

    Filed under: Electronic resources, World Wide Web, Events, Historical newspapers - journalismlibrary @

    Free on the web, from LexisNexis (I repeat, this resource is free, not just for subscribers):

    As the year winds down, the staff of LexisNexis News has compiled a unique perspective on the people and events that shaped the news this year, the 2005 Year in Review. Journey back to the actual day this year’s top national and international news events occurred. From front page stories to editorials, LexisNexis presents newspaper headlines and stories from around the U.S. and World - the day it happened.

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