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JOMC 53 Pathfinder  
Fran Mears and Walter Mears
Research & Fact Checking

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COURSE OBJECTIVES for JoMC 53: 

  • studying news story elements 

  • writing leads 

  • writing various types of news stories
    ("Brites?" NYT's "Metropolitan Diary?")

  • researching and fact checking
    (What is the difference, if any, between researching and fact checking? What is the journalist's prime directive?)

     In journalism there has always been a tension between getting it first and getting it right.
                                 Ellen Goodman, columnist, 1993

     In most research, one of two things typically happen: either you will find too much or too little. Further, the information that looks promising may be incomplete, incorrect, or out of date. What you do then determines your level of research skill, curiosity, commitment, and time.

                                Barbara Semonche, researcher, n.d.

     News reporters, editors and photographers are frequently looking for information about individuals, places, events, subjects on deadline. Sometimes the information required is merely for a quick check for a spelling, verification of a title, or address and phone number. They use print sources such as directories, dictionaries, encyclopedias, atlases, fact books as well as such online sources as commercial full-text databases and web search engines. On other occasions, even more detailed research is required. Frequently there are discrepancies in research results. And, perhaps worse, nothing will be found. Resolving these conflicts is where reporters and researchers earn their pay and protect their reputations (and the credibility of their news organizations.) Link to Prof. Shumaker's JoMC 53 fact-checking exercise.

Basic Steps:
  • Be clear about your assignment.
     
  • Identify what you know and what you don't know. Start with questions.
     
  • Ask yourself, "Who (or what agency) would collect this information?" Imagine perfect article.
     
  • Consider key concepts and logical search terms. Check spelling and definitions.
     
  • Select several logical sources to search; don't stop with first results. Explore print & online.
     
  • Consult with professor and/or librarian if your searches yield poor results.
     
  • Begin searching. Keep track of sources searched, you may have to revisit them.
     
  • Verify (fact check & vet) answers and sources.
 Second Efforts:
  • Check with news librarians or news researchers for additional resources.
     
  • Search more sophisticated databases (free and/or fee)[Bloomberg; Hoovers; Facts on File; Factiva; CQ Researcher, Issues & Controversies;  NewsBank; LexisNexis; etc.]
     
  • Double check print, electronic resources for date range, content, validity and comprehensiveness.
     
  • Be alert to limits of web searching [Note: "Invisible" web cannot search non-html files (PDF files), sites requiring registration, some publications' archives, dynamically created web pages.]
 Investigative Research:
  • Track specialized sources [Property ownership; voter registration; campaign finance; criminal records; etc.]
     
  • Investigate public records [LexisNexis public records; PublicData.com; etc.]
     
  • Interview known sources 
     
  • Contact knowledgeable experts [ProfNet, etc.]
     
  • Conduct due diligence, e.g.,  background checks [Accurint; AutoTrack XP; Reference USA; LexisNexis People Finder, etc.] 
     
  • Double check facts & sources

     It is essential to question everyone and everything to get as close to the truth as possible on deadline. Learn to be skeptical of all information regardless of format. It takes effort, experience and a skeptical attitude to detect incomplete, incorrect, and deceptive  information flooding our world. Challenge everything you hear, see, or read. Why Fact Check?

     In the larger news organizations (metropolitan newspapers, national wire services, big circulation magazines, network television or radio stations), the best place to look for data or information is the in-house news library or research center. In our School, a good place to start is our Park Library.

PARK LIBRARY REFERENCE/RESEARCH SERVICES

  • Students: The Library Director is available for research consultation, commercial database instruction, Web search coaching, and tutorials in writing literature reviews. This instruction is offered to classes as well as to individual and small groups of students. Contact the Director to schedule appointments.

TYPES OF REFERENCE RESOURCES
      (print reference sources, databases, web sites, tip sheets & guides, experts)

Prepared by:
Barbara Semonche, Park Library Director Library
February 2006

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