Researching Stories

1
Researching Stories

• Using Offline and Online Reporting Sources

2
Methods of gaining human sources

• Self-Sponsorship
• Matchmaking (snowballing)
• Strategic networking
• Blog searches

3
Pitfalls of Dealing with Sources

• Anonymous sources
• On and off the record reporting
• Background sources
• Up and down the ladder pitfalls

4
The Internet as a Reporting Source

• The Internet can be an extremely valuable
  information source.
• Journalists should treat information they find on
  the Internet the same way they treat any other
  informationwith caution.
• Merely delivering raw information is not
  journalism.

5
E-Mail Related Sources

• E-mail
• Newsgroups
• Listservs

6
Using E-Mail

• Benefits of time-shifting communication
• Should not be used in place of telephone or
  in-person interviews
• Why?
• Can be a useful tool to
• Establish initial contact
• Check facts
• Ask for follow-up information

7
Using Newsgroups and Listservs

• Can be havens for false information
• Can also be good sources for background
  information or to help locate sources
• Can lead to others who are working on the topic
  or who can be approached for advice
• http//newslink.org/email.html
• Can keep journalists up to date with current
  topics and provide a starting point for a story
• Provides a human touch for reaction and impact
• Identity issues?

8
Web PageBased Sources

• General references sources
• http//www.nytimes.com/navigator/
• Specialized sources
• http//powereporting.com/
• Search engines
• http//google.com/
• Directories
• Find people http//ojr.org/ojr/technology/1027538
  596.php
• Online journalism sites
• Databases

9
Evaluating Web Site Owners

• Dissect the different parts of the URL
• Domain dissection
• Check the InterNIC Web site to find the
  registered owner of a Web site
• http//www.internic.net/

10
Other Evaluation Criteria

• Personal Web pagesjournalists need to be
  skeptical and check any information found there
• Other Web site items to check thoroughly
• Grammar and spelling
• Overall design
• Date for most recent update
• Contact information
• Be aware of actions of hackers

11
Other Sources for Research

• Semi-Public and private records
• Lexis-Nexis
• Gossip circles
• The trash can believe it.