Checking for Reliability

Evaluating Information Sources

News Indexes and News Search Engines on the Web (Includes access to 1st Headlines, Newsbot, Total News, NewsTracker, etc.)

NewsWires (via LibrarySpot web site) -- provides access to current AP, Reuter, etc. news stories.

AJRNewslink - American Journalism Review
One of the most comprehensive newspaper sites on the Web; provides access to over 9,000 newspapers, magazines, broadcasters and news services worldwide on the Web.

Links to Search Engines (as listed by Search Engine Watch) -- Includes links to specialty search engines, multimedia search engines, news search engines, etc.

Search Engine Showdown -- Compiled and maintained by Greg Notess. This is an excellent site to find information about search engines.

Reviews and Evaluations of Search Engines -- Selected Sources

Web Search -- About.com Guide by Chris Sherman -- Invisible Web - Hidden Searchable Databases

Hidden Web Sources as listed by Search Engine Watch

Invisible Web -- Web site providing links to various databases on the Internet.

Direct Search Compiled by Gary Price -- This lists a substantial number of databases that can be accessed on the Internet . Databases are arranged by subject categories.

Search Systems -- over 1614 Free Searchable Public Record Databases (arranged by state)

Wisconsin Circuit Court Access

Milwaukee Municipal Court Case Information System -- Information regarding Milwaukee County Municipal Court web site.

Journalist's Guide to the Internet -- Web site of Chris Calahan, author of the book "A Journalist's Guide to the Internet: The Net as a Reporting Tool"

JournalismNet
Created and maintained by investigative reporter, Julian Sher, JournalismNet is a working journalist's guide to the Net; it contains over 80 web pages with over 3,000 links designed to help journalists to locate information on the Internet.

APB crime news site -- APBnews.com is a news-centered network devoted exclusively to crime, justice and safety – an 8-channel/26-program Web site covering the most intensively followed genre in media: police and crime news, personal and community anti-crime and safety information, and media and entertainment.

Power Reporting Resources and Training for Journalists
This site is compiled and maintained by Bill Dedman, a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist. Included are links to a variety of web sites dealing with journalism including how to do research on the Web.

Links to Journalism Sites (from Marquette University Libraries' web page "Selected Internet Sites") This will help you to find other Web resources geared towards Journalists and Journalism.

Statistical Abstract of the United States

American Demographics

Links to Statistical Sites (as listed from Marquette University Libraries' Selected Internet Sites)

Lists of  Research Sources (databases available to Marquette University clientele)  (arranged by broad subject categories -- newspaper databases (such as Lexis-Nexis, Ethnic News Watch, etc. are found under General & Multidisciplinary.)

QUOTE:

"The Internet -- with its instant, ever growing, and largely free access to millions of data sources around the world -- provides journalists with the most important tool since the telephone. But when used poorly, the Internet can be detrimental to journalism by exacerbating sloppy and inaccurate reporting. In short, the Internet almost always will make good reporters better, and usually will make bad reporters worse."

Chris Callahan, from the book: A Journalist's Guide to the Internet, 1999.

 

BIBLIOGRAPHY

A bibliography of useful books in Marquette University Libraries which detail how to go about finding information on the Web, as well as how to locate databases and other information in general:

Ackermann, Ernest C. The information searcher's guide to searching and researching on the Internet + W. c2001. Wilsonville, Or. : ABF Content.
Call Number: Memorial Library ZA 4201 .A25 2001

Arkin, William M. The U.S. military online : a directory for Internet access to the Department of Defense. c1997. Washington [D.C.] : Brassey's.
Call Number: Memorial Reference UA23.3 .A85 1997

Berinstein, Paula. Finding statistics online : how to locate the elusive numbers you need. 1998. Medford, NJ : Information Today.
Call Number: Memorial Library Reference HA33.5 .B47 1998
Science Library Reference HA33.5 .B47 1998
Law Library Reference HA33.5 .B47 1998

Berko, Robert L. Using public records to find and investigate anyone. 1997. South Orange, NJ : Consumer Education Research Center.
Call Number: Memorial Library Reference HV6762.U5 B49 1997

Brooks, Brian S. Journalism in the information age : a guide to computers for reporters and editors. c1997. Boston : Allyn and Bacon.
Call Number: Memorial Library PN4784.E5 B76 1997

Callahan, Christopher. A journalist's guide to the Internet : the Net as a reporting tool. c1999. Boston : Allyn & Bacon.
Call Number: Memorial Library PN4784.E5 C35 1999

Abstract: From the Back Cover : This practical, hands-on book offers readers the tools to think about the Internet from a journalistic perspective and provides tactics that may help both the budding and the experienced journalist meet the tightest of deadlines. Readers will find an up-close look at the different elements of the Internet and how they can be used as tools. Electronic mail, mailing lists, newsgroups, and the World Wide Web issues are thoroughly covered. This book describes not only how to find information on the Internet but also how to evaluate the credibility and newsworthiness of the information retrieved. Broadcasters, journalists of print and television media, investigative reporters, public affairs reporters, and anyone interested in utilizing the Internet for news.

Criminal justice information : how to find it, how to use it. 1998. Phoenix, Ariz. : Oryx Press.
Call Number: Memorial Library HV7419.5 .C75 1998
Law Library Reference HV7419.5 .C75 1998

The Electronic grapevine : rumor, reputation, and reporting in the new on-line environment /. 1998. Mahwah, N.J. : L. Erlbaum Associates.
Call Number: Memorial Library PN4784.E5 E44 1998

Gale directory of databases. 2002. Detroit : Gale Research Inc.
Call Number: Science Library Z699.22 .G34 for 2000 ed.
Memorial Library Z699.22.G34 for 2001 ed.

Notes: Issued in 2 vols.: v. 1. Online databases; v. 2. CD-ROM, diskette, magnetic tape, handheld, and batch access database products.
Abstract: Profiles more than 13,8700 databases available worldwide in a variety of formats. Entries include producer name, contact information, database description, subject, language, update frequency, geographic coverage, availability and cost. Also available is information on software and system requirements.

Volume 1 describes online databases including dialup access information as well as Internet access information, as applicable. Covers more than 3,600 producers, 2,500 online services and vendors/distributors, providing name, full content information, branch offices and a complete list of the database products available.

Garrison, Bruce. Computer-assisted reporting. 1998. Mahwah, N.J. : L. Erlbaum Associates.
Call Number: Memorial Library PN4784.E5 G37 1998

Garrison, Bruce. Successful strategies for computer-assisted reporting. 1996. Mahwah, N.J. : L. Erlbaum.
Call Number: Memorial Library PN4784.E5 G38 1996

Gould, Cheryl. Searching smart on the World Wide Web : tools and techniques for getting quality results. c1998. Berkeley, Calif. : Library Solutions Press.
Call Number: Science Library TK5105.888 .G68 1998

Notes: "Includes a disk [in pocket at end] containing useful Netscape bookmarks and Internet Explorer favorites."

Government information on the Internet. 1997-. Lanham, Md. : Bernan Press.
Call Number: Memorial Library Z1223.Z7 N67

Hane, Paula J. Super searchers in the news : the online secrets of journalists and news researchers. Information Today, Inc., 2000.
Call number:  Memorial Library  PN4784.E53 H36 2000

Harper, Christopher.  And that's the way it will be : news and information in a digital world. New York:  NY University Press.
Call Number: Memorial Library PN4784.E5 H36 1998

Harris, Robert. A guidebook to the Web. c2000. Guilford, CT : Dushkin/McGraw-Hill.
Call Number: Memorial Library Reference TK5105.888 .H37 2000

Notes: Research activities available via the Internet;This book is designed to help you become a discriminating consumer of information. Beginning with a brief introduction to working with the online supplement to this book, the [book then] gives a basic background to the concept of the World Wide Web, and some critical definitions of terms you will need to operate in the technological world of the Internet. The book then provides ... information on how to conduct searches on the World Wide Web, dealing first with specific tools such as directories and search engines, then with strategies such as multiple-word searches and Boolean Operators.... [Next, the book gives] specific insights into evaluating Web sources, discussing such topics as credibility, accuracy, reasonableness, support, and objectivity, and then provide[s] specific examples of citing Web sources in a paper or a presentation. [The book then] discuss[es] the kind of intellectual issues that apply in all areas of discourse: thinking critically, and ethical behavior.... The final chapter introduces you to WebQuester, an online supplement that provides Web research exercises to enhance many courses with current content.--Preface

Hart, Anne. Cyberscribes.1 : the new journalists. c1997. San Diego, CA : Ellipsys International Publications.
Call Number: Memorial Library Z286.E43 H375 1997

Hernon, Peter. U.S. Government on the Web : getting the information you need. 1999. Englewood, Colo. : Libraries Unlimited.
Call Number: Memorial Library Reference ZA5075 .H47 1999

Hock, Randolph. The extreme searcher's guide to Web search engines : a handbook for the serious searcher. c2001. Medford, N.J. : CyberAge Books. 2nd ed.
Call Number: Memorial Library  ZA4226 .H63 2001

Houston, Brant. Computer-assisted reporting: a practical guide. c1999. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's. 2nd ed.
Call number: Memorial Library PN4784.E5 H68 1999

Information sources for the press and broadcast media. 1999. London ; New Providence, NJ : Bowker-Saur.
Call Number: Memorial Library P96.I47 I5 1999

The Internet blue pages. 1999. Medford, NJ : CyberAge Books.
Call Number: Memorial Reference TK5105.875.I57 I5735

Notes: "The guide to Federal Government web sites"--Cover;"Your 'portable search engine' to the Federal Government on the Web"--Cover;Companion to World Wide Web site: http://www.fedweb.com.

Lane, Carole A. Naked in cyberspace : how to find personal information online. 1997. Wilton, CT : Pemberton Press.
Call Number: Memorial Library Reference JK2445.P82 L36 1997

On cover: Online magazine's guide to what you can find out online about anyone.

Lanson, Jerry. News in a new century : reporting in an age of converging media. c1999. Thousand Oaks, CA : Pine Forge Press.
Call Number: Memorial Library PN4781 .L37 1999

Miller, Lisa C. Power journalism : computer-assisted reporting. c1998. Fort Worth, TX : Harcourt Brace College Publishers.
Call Number: Memorial Library PN4784.E5 M55 1998

Morville, Peter. The Internet searcher's handbook : locating information, people & software. c1999. New York : Neal-Schuman Publishers. 2nd edition.
Call Number: Memorial Library ZA4201 .M67 1999

Parco, Vincent. Researching public records : how to get anything on anybody. c1994. Secaucus, NJ : Carol Pub. Group.
Call Number: Memorial Library JK2445.P82 P37 1994

Paul, Nora. Great scouts! : cyberguides for subject searching on the Web. c1999. Medford, N.J. : CyberAge Books.
Call Number: Memorial Library ZA4201 .P38 1999

Reddick, Randy. The online journalist : using the internet and other electronic resources. c1997. Fort Worth, TX : Harcourt Brace College. 2nd edition.
Call Number: Memorial Library PN4784.E5 R43 1997

The reporter's handbook : an investigator's guide to documents and techniques. c1996. New York : St. Martin's Press.
Call Number: Memorial Library PN4781 .R38 1996

The sourcebook to public record information : the comprehensive guide to county, state, & federal public records sources . c2001. Tempe, AZ : BRB Publications, Inc. 2nd ed.
Call Number: Law Library Reference JK468.P76 S693 2001

Woodward, Jeannette A. Writing research papers : investigating resources in cyberspace. c1999. Lincolnwood, Ill. : NTC/Contemporary Pub. Group.
Call number:  Memorial Library LB2369 .W66 1999

If you have any questions or require any assistance, please feel free to inquire at the Memorial Library Reference Desk or call 288-7556 or contact the librarian as listed below.