Journalists used to rely on their notepad and pen. Today, professional journalists rely on the computer-and not just for the writing. Much, if not all, of a journalist's research happens on a computer. If you are journalist of any kind, you need to know how to find the information you need online. This book will show you how to find declassified governmental files, statistics of all kinds, simple and complex search engines for small and large data gathering, and directories of subject experts. This book is for the many journalists around the world who didn't attend a formal journalism school before going to work, those journalists who were educated before online research became mainstream, and for any student studying journalism today. It will teach you how to use the Internet wisely, efficiently and comprehensively so that you will always have your facts straight and fast.Online Newsgathering:. reflects the most current thinking. is pertinent to both industry and education. focuses on what people need to knowPlease visit the authors' companion website at computerassistedreporting.com for additional resources.

Chapter 1: How journalists use the Internet worldwideThe chapter describes journalists' use of the Internet around the world to provide an overview of just how accepted the Internet has become as a reporting tool. It uses, among other references, the annual Middleberg-Ross surveys of Internet use by journalists which have appeared since 1998.Chapter 2: Generating story ideasThis chapter focuses on how to use different parts of the Internet-email, blogs, the UseNet, newsgroups, and the Web-to develop story ideas for all areas of the media. It includes a section on how to read URLs because this is needed as background for chapter 7, on assessing information quality and veracity.Chapter 3: Email for newsgatheringBecause email is the most commonly used part of the Internet, this chapter describes the many ways that journalists can use email to gather information for stories.Chapter 4: Blogs, moblogs and journalismThis focuses on the development of blogs as reporting tools (places where journalists can find new and useful information). Will also look at the new phenomenon of moblogs (blogs that incorporate the cameras in mobile phones) and vlogs (video blogs) as new forms of blogging.Chapter 5: Beyond Google: Finding informationThis chapter will look at the host of new search tools available plus other information sources such as specialist blogs, RSS (really simple syndication), and intelligent bots (software that searches for designated search strings).Chapter 6: Information gathering for a multi-media worldThis chapter is based on the premise that the modern, converged journalist needs to gather information for more than one medium, and shows how to collect information for multi-platform and multi-media reportage.Chapter 7: Evaluating information qualityMost journalists accept that the world is full of information. The key issue is the quality of the information. This chapter introduces processes and tools for assessing the quality and veracity of information.Chapter 8: Developing a beat using the InternetAss the name suggests, this chapter offers a strategy for helping a new reporter use the Internet for developing an area of expertise. It includes how to find experts, how to research deep material, and how to explore key topics in detail. It also brings the whole issue of multi-media information gathering together in one process.Chapter 9: The global journalistThis chapter focuses on the global nature of the Internet and shows journalists how to conduct international investigations using teams from partner nations. It is based on the Greenpeace slogan (appropriated from Mohandas K Ghandi) of thinking globally but acting locally.Chapter 10: Sites for journalists by journalistsThis chapter acknowledges the wide range of information that journalists currently make available for other journalists on web sites. It describes the best of them, and details the host of legitimate online resources available for journalists.Glossary and index