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Step One – Define your topic
Step Two – Determine the type of information needed
Step Three – Search for information
Step One – Define your topic
Getting started can sometimes feel like the most difficult part of the research process. Help define your topic by asking questions:
Step Two – Define the type of information needed
1. What types of resources are required?
Books
Articles on a topic
Articles from a specific journal
2.If articles are needed, how do I know if a publication is a scholarly journal or a popular magazine?
Journal articles:
Are written by experts in the field
Are peer-reviewed
Include reports of original research, or in-depth analysis of
issues related to the field
Use terminology and language specific to that field of study
Are written for other researchers in the field
Include bibliographies and extensive documentation
Magazine articles:
Are written by journalists and free-lance writers
Are not peer-reviewed
Cover current events, hot topics, popular culture
Use non-technical language
Are written for a broad and popular audience
Rarely cite any sources
Step Three – Search for information
Finding Books:
CONSULS is the shared online library catalog for all 4 of the CSU libraries – SCSU, CCSU, ECSU, and WCSU, as well as the Connecticut State Library in Hartford. CONSULS will show you what is owned by each library, where it is located in the building, the call number of the book, and whether it is available on the shelf or already checked out.
You can search for books on a topic by using by a Keyword search; for finding books by a particular author, use an Author search; when you know the title of a book you are looking for, use a Title search. You can also search for a specific book if you know a few of the title words by using a Keyword search.
The two major book locations in Buley Library are the Circulating Collection, and the Reference Collection .
Circulating Books – Buley Library uses the Library of Congress Classification System; each call number begins with a letter that designates a major subject area. The call number serves as a specific address for where the book belongs on the shelf. The call number also groups books together by subject. When you find your book on the shelf, notice that there may be others located near it that relate to the same topic. Circulating books can be checked out for 28 days.
Reference Books - Excellent background information can be found in reference books such as subject encyclopedias . Subject encyclopedias help define a topic, provide a timeline of events, identify people associated with the topic, and supply good keywords to use later when searching for books or articles. These books do not circulate, but you are free to use them within the building, and to make photocopies.
You can find subject encyclopedias in the Reference Collection by using a Keyword search in CONSULS.
Type in “encyclopedia” followed by your general topic.
Examples: encyclopedia and journalism
encyclopedia and censorship
Journalism Resources in the Reference Collection
Encyclopedias
The Encyclopedia of American journalism Ref PN4855.P26 1983
Encyclopedia of international media and communications Ref P87.5 .E532 2003
The Focal encyclopedia of photography Ref TR9 .F6 1993
International encyclopedia of communications Ref P87.5.I5 1989
Mass media: a chronological encyclopedia of television, radio, motion pictures,
Magazines, newspapers, and books in the United States Ref P92.U5H77 1987
World press encyclopedia Ref PN4728 .Q53 2003
Dictionaries
International communications glossary Ref P96.I5B76 1984
Webster's New World dictionary of media and communications Ref P87.5 .W45 1996
Style Books
The Associated Press stylebook and libel manual: including guidelines on photo
captions, filing the wire, proofreaders' marks, copyright Ref PN4783.A83 1998b
The Chicago manual of style Ref Z253 U69 2003
The New York Times manual of style and usage Ref PN4783.S57 1999
Radio
Encyclopedia of American radio, 1920-1960 Ref PN1991.2 .S57 2000
Radio's golden years: the encyclopedia of radio programs, 1930-1960 Ref PN1991.3.U6 T47
Television
The complete encyclopedia of television programs, 1947-1979
Encyclopedia of television Ref PN1992.18.E53 1997
Encyclopedia of television news Ref PN4888.T4 E53 1999
Women and American television: an encyclopedia Ref PN1992.8.W65 L69 1999
Ethics
The concise encyclopedia of ethics in politics and the media Ref PN4756 .C645 2001
The encyclopedia of censorship Ref Z657 .G73 2005
Historical dictionary of censorship in the United States Ref KF4770.A59H87 1985
Journalism ethics: a reference handbook Ref PN4756 .J67 1997
Press freedoms: a descriptive calendar of concepts, interpretations, events, and
court actions, from 4000 BC to the present Ref K3255.I54 1987
Journalism Education
How to pay for your degree in journalism & related fields Ref PN4788 .H69 2002-04
Opportunities in journalism careers Ref PN4797 .F48 2001
Biographical Sources
Biographical dictionary of American journalism Ref PN4871.B56 1989
Complete biographical encyclopedia of Pulitzer Prize winners 1917-2000 Ref AS911.P8 C6 2002
Encyclopedia of twentieth-century journalists Ref PN4871.T34 1986
Journalist biographies master index: a guide to 90,000 references to historical and
contemporary journalists in 200 biographical directories and other sources Ref Z6940.J58
Journalists of the United States : biographical sketches of print and broadcast news
shapers from the late 17th century to the present Ref PN4871.D68 1991
Who's who of Pulitzer Prize winners Ref AS911.P8 B74 1999
American magazine journalists, 1741-1850 Ref PN4871.A47 1988
American magazine journalists, 1850-1900 Ref PN4871.A474 1988
American magazine journalists, 1900-1960 Ref PN4871.A475 1994
American newspaper journalists, 1690-1872 Ref PN4871.A48 1985
American newspaper journalists, 1873-1900 Ref PN4871.A49 1983
American newspaper journalists, 1901-1925 Ref PN4871.A5 1984
American newspaper journalists, 1926-1950 Ref PN4871.A52 1984
Finding Articles
To search for scholarly articles within journals, go to the Buley Library home page, and under Find Articles , click on Search Databases . This takes you to a long alphabetical list of all databases subscribed to by Buley Library, including databases that provide full text journal articles and newspaper articles. You can either go directly to a database (if you know the one you want), or use the “My Research is In” pull-down menu to find which databases would be the best for you to search for information on your topic. Listed below are suggested databases to use for doing research in the field of journalism.
Journalism Databases
Other Databases useful for Journalism research:
Selected Journalism web sites
Journalism Education
American Press Institute http://www.americanpressinstitute.org/
Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) http://www.aejmc.org/
Journalism.org (Project for Excellence in Journalism) http://journalism.org/
Knight Foundation http://www.knightfoundation.org/
Maynard Institute http://www.maynardije.org/
Media Watchdogs
Accuracy in Media http://www.aim.org/
Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) http://www.fair.org/index.php
MediaChannel.org http://mediachannel.org/
Media Matters for America http://mediamatters.org/
Media Research Center (MRC) http://www.mediaresearch.org/
How do I determine if Buley Library owns or has access to a particular journal?
Click on: Journal Locator (under Find Articles)
Type in the title of the journal (not the title of an article within a journal). The Journal Locator will tell you if Buley Library has access to the journal, and if it is available electronically, in print, in microfilm, or in microfiche. If you are working from a bibliography, or have a specific article citation, starting with the Journal Locator is a good approach.
How do I obtain materials I am unable to find in the Buley Library collections?
To obtain books not found in CONSULS, or articles not available through Buley Library's electronic or print collections, you can request the items through Buley Library's Interlibrary Loan service. Requests can be submitted electronically using the forms available on the Buley Library home page under Library Services, Interlibrary Loan.
Where do I go for help with my journalism research?
You can also ask for help at the Buley Library Reference Desk, on the First Floor of the Library, 392-5732, or eref@southernct.edu.
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