Birmingham-Southern College
The Charles Andrew Rush Learning Center/N.E. Miles Library

 

 

ENGLISH 204~Introduction to Writing for Print Media

Library Research Guide~Selected Sources

 

 

Indexes and Databases

 

Explore the many databases available through the Library’s Indexes and Databases webpage.  Some of the most useful for news include:

 

Lexis-Nexis Academic provides full text from over 5,000 newspapers, magazines and journals, wire services, as well as radio/tv transcripts. Also includes legal, business, medical and reference files.

 

Newspaper Source provides selected full text access to 240 U.S. and international newspapers.

 

ProQuest Newspapers contains the full text articles to hundreds of regional, national, and international newspapers.

 

Alternative Press Index an index to over 700 alternative, radical and left periodicals.  See Reference Desk for password.  Note:  Check Periodicals@BSC for availability of material identified.

 

Selected Newspapers and Indexes

 

Birmingham News:   available in print in BSC Library (3 months, approx.)

available electronically from 1993 forward.  Check
  Periodicals@BSC

                                    available on microfilm from 1971 forward in BSC Library

Index:  http://www.bhamnews.com/mainindex.html covers 1993
  forward.

microfiche index:  covers 1978-1993 located on ground floor of
  Library

Christian Science Monitor: available in print in BSC Library (3 months, approx.)

available electronically 1980 forward.  Check
  Periodicals@BSC

                                                print index covers 1960-2002 (Ref AI 21 .C46)

New York Times:      available in print in BSC Library (3 months, approx.)

                                    available electronically from 1980 forward Check Periodicals@BSC
                                    print Index covers 1851-2004  (Ref AI 21 .N45)

Wall Street Journal: available in print in BSC Library (3 months, approx.)

available electronically from 1984 forward.  Check
  Periodicals@BSC

                                    print Index covers 1986-2002 (Ref HG 1 .W26)

 

Other Current Newspaper Subscriptions

 

The Library keeps approximately 3 months of the current paper issues of the following newspapers:

  • Atlanta Journal-Constitution
  • Birmingham Times
  • Sunday Times (London)
  • USA Today
  • Wall Street Journal
  • Washington Post

 

Birmingham Southern materials

 

Birmingham Southern publications.  The Hilltop News and other BSC publications are housed in the College Archives located in the Library.

Birmingham Southern yearbooks. The yearbook was published under various names; the current title is Southern Accent.  (Ref LD 451 .B5664 1919, Shelved at the Reference Desk and also in the College Archives located in the Library) 

 

Factfinding

 

This is a selected list of sources to consider as you gather background information for your stories.  Also, look into the Internet Sources on the Library’s web page for links to websites for general information.

 

Associations Unlimited contains information for around 500,000 international and U.S. national, regional, state, and local nonprofit membership organizations.

 

Biography Reference Bank contains biographical information from many reference books.  Also identifies magazine articles and book reviews.

 

Encyclopaedia Britannica Almanac 2005 (Ref AY 64 .E36 2005)

 

Facts on File is a world news digest with a cumulative index, updated weekly, 1961--present.  (Ref D 410 .F3) 

 

Famous First Facts, International Edition. (Ref AG 5 .A69 2000) arranged by topic with subject index.

 

Gallup Poll Tuesday Briefing, formerly Gallup Poll Monthly Full text available from 2002 to present.  Check Periodicals@BSC.

 

New York Times Guide to Essential Knowledge (Ref AG 6 .N495 2004)

 

The World Almanac 2005.  (Ref AY 67 .N5 W7 2005) also available through FirstSearch

 

A Writer’s Companion (Ref AG 105 .W97 1995) Important facts, dates, and other knowledge good writers should know.

 

Statistics

 

            Alabama

 

Economic Abstract of Alabama 2000. (Ref HC 107 .A4 E36 2000)  Check other Alabama statistics from The Center for Business and Economic Statistics at the University of Alabama.

 

            United States

 

American FactFinder contains U.S. Census Bureau demographic and economic data.

 

Brief statistics arranged by country are available from CIA World Factbook which is also available in print CIA World Factbook 2004.(Ref J 85 .W611 2004) 

 

FedStats is the “gateway to statistics from over 100 federal agencies.”  The site contains links to data as well as press releases.

 

Historical Statistics of the United States, Colonial Times to 1970.  (Ref HA 202 .B87 1976.)

 

Lexis-Nexis Statistical allows users to search summaries of statistical publications, then link to the full-text of selected publications and government Web sites.

 

Statistical Abstract of the United States contains a collection of statistics on social and economic conditions in the U.S. and selected other nations. Includes state rankings.

 

            International

United Nations Statistical Yearbook 2001.  (Ref HA 12.5 .U63 2001)  Published in 2004. It takes a couple of years to gather data from all the reporting countries.  For more information try the U.N. Statistics Division.  For other statistical data from the European Union try Eurostat.  Check the “about“ section for the “Services for Journalists”.

 

Other Useful Links

 

FactCheck.org from the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania monitors “the factual accuracy of what is said by major U.S. political players in the form of TV ads, debates, speeches, interviews, and news releases.” Their goal is “to apply the best practices of both journalism and scholarship, and to increase public knowledge and understanding.”

 

Mass Communication Bibliographies
Created by David Shedden of the Poynter Institute.

Broadcast Journalism
Computer Assisted Reporting
Crime Coverage Reporting
Diversity
Interviewing
Investigative Reporting
Journalism History
Media Credibility
Media Ethics
Media Leadership
New Media
Photojournalism
Politics and the Press
Public Journalism
Reporting, Writing and Editing
Visual Journalism
World Press
War Correspondents
Youth and Media

 

 

Ask Us!  If you would like additional information or assistance, you may receive help from the Librarians at the Reference Desk; by phone at (205) 226-4766, or you may use our electronic request form.